Dr Sandip Ghosh’s tenure was marked with allegations of mismanagement and financial irregularities; his quick appointment intensifies outrage
Hours after Dr Sandip Ghosh stepped down as the principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Monday following widespread protests over the rape and murder of a woman trainee doctor, the West Bengal Government appointed him as the principal of Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital (CNMCH), triggering further outrage.
The government also appointed new principal of RG Kar Medical College. Dr Suhrita Paul, who is the OSD (Officer on Special Duty) at the West Bengal Health and Family Welfare Department, has replaced Dr Ghosh at RG Kar Medical College. Dr Ajay Kumar Ray, who has been replaced by Dr Sandip Ghosh at CNMCH, will be the new OSD at Swasthya Bhawan.
Dr Sandip Ghosh, who had been under intense pressure due to the growing public outcry and mounting accusations of mismanagement and financial irregularities at the government-run Kolkata institute, attributed his resignation to “moral responsibility” and “political conspiracy”. A day ago, the state government removed the Superintendent of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Sanjay Vashisth.
Addressing mediapersons to announce his resignation, Ghosh on Monday said, “The sole demand of people of the state was my resignation. So, I am resigning willingly and not under any pressure… I am being defamed on social media. Some people are spreading false accusations against me. Students are being provoked to seek my removal. The deceased doctor was like my child, and I want the guilty to be punished. As a parent, I am resigning.”
An orthopedic professor, Ghosh was appointed the principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in mid-2021 after being promoted from his previous position at Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital (CNMCH). While his tenure at CNMC was free from allegations, his appointment at RG Kar has been marked by controversies. He was transferred by the state Health Department on two occasions, only to be quickly reinstated.
In May last year, he was transferred to Murshidabad Medical College, but the state health department revoked it within 48 hours.
In the second instance, he was transferred again to Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital only to return to RG Kar within a month. In September 2023, there was a ragging incident in the college’s Manicktala Main Boys’ Hostel. Even then the fingers were pointed at trainee doctors close to Ghosh. Ghosh was transferred to Murshidabad Medical College on September 11. In October, he was back at RG Kar Hospital.
In the past, faculty members at RG Kar Hospital leveled serious allegations against Ghosh, including misappropriation of funds and irregularities in procurement processes. BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, had been questioning Ghosh’s continued presence at the helm of the medical college.
“It is common knowledge that Ghosh was removed twice from the coveted RG Kar Medical College’s principal’s chair by the Health Department. But he mysteriously remained in the position. Such is his influence that once a government order for his removal was cancelled within 48 hours, and another time after he was removed and transferred to the Murshidabad Medical College but found his way back to RG Kar within a month,” Adhikari had posted X following the rape and murder of the doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
Dr Manas Gumta of the Association of Health Service Doctors also welcomed his removal. “We have been demanding that no investigation should be done with him (Ghosh) being on the chair. Such a heinous crime takes place while you being on the chair and you don’t resign immediately. He should have been removed on day one,” Gumta said earlier in the day before the news of Ghosh’s appointment at CNMCH came in.
State Secretary of the Medical Service Center Dr Biplab Chandra said, “Dr Sandeep Ghosh’s resignation from the post of principal of the medical college is a victory of our united movement. Dr Ghosh should also be brought under the purview of investigation.”
