The Central Bureau Of Investigation (CBI) is questioning Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkatta, on a regular basis following the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at the institution. He was forced to resign from his position amid major protests and strikes by doctors and other medical professionals. He was then appointed Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital’s principal following his ouster, however, he was removed from the post as well on the orders of the Calcutta High Court. Now, he has been made OSD (Officer on Special Duty) by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s administration.
As per reports, Ghosh has been appointed as OSD at the Health Ministry of the West Bengal government, as per a notification issued on Wednesday.
The High Court had slammed the decision to make him the principal of National Medical College after which he took a leave of absence. However, the students of RG Kar Medical College relentlessly called for his dismissal and on the night of 21st August a delegation of students assembled at Swasthya Bhawan. Afterwards, a total of four medical officers including Sandip Ghosh were transferred and the latter was also removed from the post.
However, Sandip Ghosh’s removal has been followed by reports of his appointment as an officer on special duty. The government’s decision not to suspend him in spite of the numerous accusations levelled against him has been questioned by the outraged pupils. On the other hand, the authorities claimed that the termination procedure is drawn out in accordance with government regulations. Sandip Ghosh would be able to testify at the departmental hearing even if the vigilance report declares him guilty. Otherwise, he could approach the court to challenge the ruling. The students countered that the government had the option to at least send him on leave, but they chose not to do it.
Government officials, however, maintained that he was no longer a college professor or the principal. The government has made the decision to temporarily house him in the Swasthya Bhawan rather than the medical college. It is unclear if he would be given departmental responsibilities as OSD or not. However, concerns have been expressed over his selection to a government position since the CBI is investigating him regularly regarding the rape and murder case.
Akhtar Ali, the former Deputy Superintendent of Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, had earlier accused him of corruption and malpractice, claiming that Sandip Ghosh had sold unclaimed dead bodies, trafficked biomedical waste to contacts in Bangladesh, taken a 20% commission on each tender and purposefully failing students to demand money. He had filed a criminal case against the latter in the Calcutta High Court.
In the meantime, Suhrita Paul, who was made the principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital after the resignation of Sandip Ghosh, has also been transferred to Barasat Medical College. Manas Banerjee, the current principal of Barasat Medical College, has been appointed as the principal of RG Kar Medical College.
After Suhrita Paul was made the new principal of RG Kar Medical College, her role in the investigation of the case was questioned by the protesting students. The hospital was vandalised by pro-TMC goons during her tenure. She was OSD in the health ministry before her appointment at the hospital. Reportedly, she continued to function from the Swasthya Bhawan, and visited the hospital only once, inviting the anger of the students.
Besides, Bulbul Mukherjee has also been relieved from the duties of MSVP of RG Kar Hospital and Dean of Students. He has been only retained as a professor in the Department of Physiology at the medical college. Also, Arunabh Dutta Chowdhury, head of the chest medicine department at RG Kar, has been transferred to Maldah Medical College in North Bengal. Notably, the victim was a doctor and a PG student at the chest medicine department.
