Court sentences dentist to 2 years in jail for sexual harassment

SRINAGAR: A local court sentenced a dentist for two years jail term and imposed a fine of Rs 5000 on him for sexually harassing a patient nine years ago.

City Magistrate Srinagar, Fozia Paul delivered a 56-page judgment, convicting Dr Shafiqur Rehman Gul, son of Abdul Rehman, who resided at Gupkar Road, near Wood Land School, and practiced at Sunny Dental Clinic in Maisuma.

This case centers on the same clinic that the victim, a young lady from the Khag area of Budgam, visited with her fiancé, now her husband, in April 2014 to address a dental issue.

During the examination, the dentist made inappropriate and offensive remarks about the complainant’s body and appearance, leading the lady to call her fiancé and leave the clinic.

Later, she shared the details with him, and subsequently, the victim filed a complaint alleging sexual harassment by the dentist in July of the same year.

The court has sentenced the accused to serve two years of simple imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 5000 under Section 509 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC).

As per the judgment, this fine will be paid as compensation to the victim, and in the event of default in the payment of the fine, the accused will face an additional two months of imprisonment.

“In my opinion, it can safely be concluded that the accused, through his use of offensive language and inappropriate physical contact, invaded the victim’s privacy with the intent to demean her modesty,” city magistrate said.

The court also acknowledged that the prosecution had effectively established the accused’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

“Consequently, I find Dr. Shafiq-ur-Rehman guilty under Section 509 of RPC, and accordingly, I convict the accused for the commission of the offense. As a medical professional, the accused holds a professional duty toward the public, and treating a patient in such an unprofessional manner is entirely unacceptable,” emphasized City Magistrate Fozia Paul.

The prosecution was represented by Mohsin Khan, while the defense was led by Advocate Bilquees Jabeen.