Kolkata

The Calcutta High Court directed the West Bengal health department on Tuesday to require Dr. Sandip Ghosh, the current principal of Calcutta National Medical College & Hospital and former principal of R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital, to take voluntary leave immediately. The court warned of further action if he did not comply.

This order came in response to a public interest litigation concerning the alleged rape and murder of a junior doctor and second-year postgraduate student last week. The division bench, led by Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya, set a deadline for Dr. Ghosh to apply for leave by 3 pm on Tuesday. The state government was also instructed to submit the case diary by 1 pm.

During the hearing, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member Bikas Ranjan Bhattacharya questioned Dr. Ghosh’s swift career moves, noting his resignation from state services in the morning and his appointment to a major medical institute by evening. The Chief Justice remarked on the rapid nature of these changes.

The state government’s lawyer defended the investigation, stating that the Kolkata Police had interviewed about 40 people. The Chief Justice expressed concern about the nationwide protests by junior doctors, noting potential impacts on patient care.

Additionally, the Calcutta High Court ordered a CBI investigation into the incident, directing the Kolkata Police to transfer all case documents to the CBI. Protests at AIIMS Delhi and calls for a nationwide OPD shutdown were noted in response to the court’s decision. The Indian Medical Association and Union Health Minister JP Nadda have demanded a thorough inquiry.