WBMC cancels registration, RG Kar Medical College ex-principal Sandip Ghosh no longer a doctor
Times of India | 20 September 2024
RG Kar former principal Dr Sandip Ghosh being taken for medical examination from CBI office, in Kolkata on Thursday. (ANI Photo) KOLKATA: Former R G Kar Medical College principal Sandip Ghosh ceases to be a doctor with the West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC) cancelling his medical practitioner registration on Thursday. Ghosh, an orthopaedic surgeon, will no more be able to practise unless the cancellation is revoked. The striking off of Ghosh's name happened on a day when various doctor organisations demonstrated in front the council's office demanding cleansing of the council that is mired in controversy.
"We have cancelled the registration of Sandip Ghosh as he failed to reply to the show-cause notice even after 13 days," said a WBMC official.
Council registrar Manas Chakraborti had told TOI on Wednesday that a decision on Ghosh's removal from the council's registration as a medical practitioner was taken and the official notice will be issued by Thursday.
Ghosh, who is currently behind the bar and was served a show-cause by the council asking him to reply within three days on Sept 6, was already in CBI custody. He was arrested first on Sept 2 on financial irregularity charges to which the investigation agency added evidence destruction charges on Sept 14.
The Thursday notice said that Ghosh's registration is cancelled according to provisions under section 25(a)(ii) of the Bengal Medical Act, 1914 and section 37 (iii) of the Code of Medical Ethics adopted by the council.
Since Ghosh was already behind the bar when the notice was served, sources said he could contest the cancellation later as he was not available when the show-cause was served to him.
In a letter signed by its president Dilip Kumar Dutta and honorary secretary Sanatnu Sen, IMA West Bengal on Wednesday had shot off a strongly worded letter to the WBMC on why it was delaying on the cancellation of Ghosh's registration.
The medical fraternity has been alleging that WBMC is the origin of corrupt practices. Various doctor organisations, including the Joint Platform of Doctors West Bengal, IMA West Bengal and Protect the Warriors, held an agitation at the council's office demanding dissolution of the council and fresh polls to elect new members.
"We also wanted to know what the council has done to the likes of Avik De, Birupaksha Biswas and Mustafizur Rehaman. What about its president Sudipto Roy and Sushanta Roy who are under the scanner of investigation agencies," said general surgery professor Manas Gumta of Joint Platform of Doctors. The protesting doctors cited a host of reasons as to why the medical council should be dissolved.