Why Did WB Govt Give Plum Post To Dr Sandip Ghosh, Sacked Principal Of Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital Despite Allegations & Outrage?

New Delhi: Dr Sandip Ghosh, the sacked principal of Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata has been in the eye of the storm ever since a trainee post-graduate doctor was found raped and murdered inside the hospital premises. He has been labelled as a “very corrupt person” by his former colleagues at the health facility.

Akhtar Ali, the former deputy superintendent of the hospital has claimed that Ghosh indulged in many corrupt practices such as failing students deliberately and demanding money for every work at the institution.

“He is a very corrupt person. He used to fail students. He used to get 20% commission on tender orders. He used to loot money for every work that was taken up at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. He used to provide alcohol to students at his guest house. He was like a mafia person,” news agency ANI quoted Akhtar Ali as saying.

“Ghosh used to have a big security. He is very powerful. I had filed a complaint against him in 2023. His resignation was just an eyewash. He was appointed as a principal at National Medical College within eight hours after his resignation,” Ali added.

Following the massive outrage over the incident, the National Medical Commission (NMC), following the directives of Union Health Minister JP Nadda, has issued an advisory to all medical colleges and institutions, urging them to develop and implement policies that ensure a safe working environment for their staff and students.

What has added fuel to the fire is that following his resignation, taking moral responsibility for the incident, the West Bengal government has appointed Ghosh as the principal of Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital (CNMCH). “I cannot take this insult anymore. All the allegations raised against me are false and fabricated. A student movement has been incited to remove me. There is a political mind behind this,” Ghosh said in his resignation letter.

The decision triggered further outrage by the protesting students. The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday slammed the Mamata Banerjee Government for the quick reinstatement of Dr Ghosh and asked him to go on an indefinite leave.

Meanwhile, an unidentified mob vandalised RG Kar Medical College and Hospital late on Wednesday night, prompting newly appointed principal Suhrita Pal to express she is in the dark about the perpetrators.

Speaking on Independence Day today, Suhrita Pal remarked, “If you know anything, please tell me. I don’t know anything about them.” She added, “I am going for flag hoisting. We should honour our national flag.”

Dr Ghosh has a chequered past. Here’s a look at Dr Ghosh’s history and the trend of his transfers and transfer reversals to RG Kar as reported by News18:

First appointment in February 2021

Dr Sandip Ghosh was initially the Vice Principal at Calcutta National Medical College before he was transferred and appointed as the Principal of RG Kar, as per an order by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal on February 9, 2021.

First protest under his term

Controversy over dissection practicals

As per reports dated January 2023, Dr Ghosh and RG Kar Medical College found themselves in another controversy, where it was alleged that the bodies coming in for autopsy were being used for “dissection practicals” without any prior consent from the parents of the deceased, over which Dr Ghosh promised an internal enquiry.

First transfer fiasco

On May 31, 2023, the Government of West Bengal issued an order replacing Dr Sandip Ghosh with one Dr Sanath Ghosh, to become the new Principal at RG Kar. However, reports state that Dr Sanath, couldn’t take charge of his new responsibility as he found the Principal cabin locked from outside, allegedly by Dr Sandip Ghosh. In over 24 hours, this transfer order was reversed and Dr Sandip Ghosh remained the principal.

On September 11, 2023, Dr Ghosh was once again issued orders of transfer to Murshidabad Medical College. He was to be replaced by Dr Manas Kumar Bandopadhyay, who, like Dr Sanath, had to face resistance, once he came to take charge. Reports state that once he reached RG Kar for his first day – his route to the Principal’s office was blocked by protesting students, who demanded Dr Ghosh’s return. Some doctors, back then, alleged that such protests were “engineered” by “certain lobbies”.

Third transfer and return to RG Kar 

Within a month of his transfer, another Government order was passed on October 9, 2023, reinstating Dr Ghosh to RG Kar. The order stated: “The Governor is pleased to appoint Prof (Dr) Sandip Ghosh of the West Bengal Medical Education Service, now employed as Professor, Department of Orthopedics, Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital, to act as Principal, RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, with immediate effect and until further orders.”

His quick transfer/appointment to National Medical College, done four hours after his resignation – could have been the fourth such instance, of him securing quick transfers, had the Calcutta HC not intervened.