RG Kar principal quits, gets new posting in 4 hours
Times of India | 13 August 2024
KOLKATA: Sandip Ghosh, principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, resigned Monday after three days of protests by junior doctors and students accusing him of covering up the rape-murder of a trainee doctor at the institution. However, Ghosh was reassigned as principal of Calcutta National Medical College (CNMC) within four hours of his resignation, sparking further unrest among students.
Suhrita Paul, ex-vice chancellor of West Bengal University of Health Sciences, was appointed as new principal of RG Kar. Paul had been serving as an OSD at Swasthya Bhawan.
"My resignation was desired by students. I hope students & junior doctors will now return to work," Ghosh said, announcing his resignation. "I am also resigning from my professorship. I am leaving my govt job," he said.
However, sources in Bengal health department said efforts were made until the last minute to keep Ghosh in his position. His resignation from medical education service was ultimately not accepted, and by evening, he was appointed principal of CNMC, replacing Ajay Ray, who was reassigned as an OSD at Swasthya Bhawan.
Protests against Ghosh began Friday, with students and junior doctors demanding his immediate removal. They insisted that he not be given any administrative role in any medical college. On Monday, Federation of Resident Doctors' Association called a nationwide strike, demanding improved security in public hospitals and a central agency investigation into the RG Kar crime.