The Registrar of the West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC), Manas Chakraborty, resigned from his position on Friday, following a directive from the Calcutta High Court.

The court on Thursday ordered Chakraborty to vacate the post, noting that he had been holding the post for over five years, despite retiring in 2019, and without the necessary approval from the state government.

The division bench comprising Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya issued the order, stating that Chakraborty’s continued tenure for five years without proper authorization was unacceptable.

The Bench emphasised that the Bengal Medical Act, 1914, requires prior government approval for any extension in the Registrar’s term. The HC directed the registrar to voluntarily resign from his position by 5pm on January 31.

Chakraborty was recently embroiled in a controversy for issuing a show-cause notice to Asfaqulla Naiya, a prominent figure in the junior doctors’ protest movement related to the R G Kar rape and murder case. The notice accused Naiya of practicing as an ENT specialist without possessing the necessary qualifications.

Following this, a police investigation was initiated against Naiya. However, an interim order from the Calcutta High Court earlier this month protected Naiya from any coercive police action, including arrest.