12 Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Thursday directed Manas Chakraborti, registrar of the West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC), to tender his resignation by 5 pm on Friday. If he fails to resign within the deadline, the court will order his removal.
After his superannuation in 2019, Chakraborti was re-employed and he worked as the registrar for more than five years. His continuation in the post was under intense scrutiny, especially after the RG Kar rape and murder on Aug 9 last year. About two months ago, the state health department asked the WBMC to appoint a new registrar, stating Chakraborti's re-employment was done without the govt sanction. But the Bengal Medical Act 1914 states that approval from the state govt is needed to continue in the post after the expiry of the service period.
The counsel appearing for the WBMC submitted that a recruitment notice was issued for the posts of the registrar and the assistant registrar. The process started and the examination is on Feb 7. "I will abide by the court's order and will tender my resignation on Friday within the stipulated time as directed by the court," Chakraborti told TOI.
During the peak of the RG Kar rape-murder protest, various doctors' organisations and junior doctors raised the issue of corruption and irregularities in the WBMC, including the legalities of allowing Chakraborti to occupy the post. Many members of the WBMC were accused of running a health syndicate and promoting a threat culture at medical colleges.
Doctor bodies, including the IMA Bengal, Joint Platform of Doctors and Service Doctors' Forum, had marched to the council's office on numerous occasions, demanding the resignation of the registrar. They also demanded a fresh election to the council.
The doctor organisation welcomed the court's directive and questioned the legality of the WBMC's current board, as the election to the commission was held in 2022, when Chakraborti acted as the returning officer. "This registrar was already on extension when the election to WBMC was held, which the state said was without the state's approval. In that case, the current council, which was elected with him as the returning officer, should be dissolved," said a senior doctor.