Principal of RG Kar Medical College Ousted Amidst Intense Protests: Key Staff Shuffled in Major Shake-Up
The West Bengal government on Wednesday night announced the removal of key officials at RG Kar Hospital and Medical College, including the principal, medical superintendent-vice principal, assistant superintendent, and head of the chest medicine department. This decision followed a meeting between protesting doctors and state health department officials, where the doctors demanded an overhaul of the hospital staff.
The protests, triggered by the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor on August 9, led to several thousand doctors marching to Swasthya Bhavan. Protesters demanded accountability and justice, calling for the removal of implicated officials, particularly Dr. Sandip Ghosh, the former principal, who is now under scrutiny for alleged financial irregularities and malpractice.
On the legal front, Dr. Akhtar Ali, the hospital’s former deputy superintendent, has petitioned the Calcutta High Court for an Enforcement Directorate probe into irregularities during Ghosh’s tenure. Concurrently, CISF officials have been deployed to guard the hospital following a Supreme Court directive.
Health Secretary NS Nigam confirmed the government’s commitment to restoring normalcy, stating that new officials will be appointed soon. Dr. Ghosh, who had been reinstated at Calcutta National Medical College, has been asked to go on leave by the High Court as the investigation into the heinous crime and associated irregularities continues.
Protests by doctors, supported by various groups including political parties and professionals, emphasize the demand for justice and systemic changes. The Supreme Court has criticized the state’s handling of the investigation, highlighting the delay in filing the FIR and the initial misreporting of the incident as a suicide.
As investigations proceed, a Special Investigation Team has been established to probe financial irregularities since January 2021. The ongoing protests and legal actions underscore the demand for accountability and structural reform in the state’s medical institutions.
Original Story https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/principal-of-rg-kar-medical-college-key-staff-shunted-as-protestors-hit-streets-101724266219691.html
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