The Calcutta High Court on Monday dismissed a plea by Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, for a fast-track hearing regarding the cancellation of his medical registration by the West Bengal Medical Council. The decision was made by a vacation bench led by Justice Partha Sarathi Sen, who determined that the matter did not warrant urgent hearing outside the regular court sessions, which are currently recessed for the festive season.
Sandip Ghosh’s legal troubles began following his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) due to alleged financial irregularities at the medical institution. The situation escalated when he was also implicated for obstructing the investigation initially led by Kolkata Police, leading to further charges of misleading the investigation and evidence tampering. Alongside Ghosh, Abhijit Mondal, the former SHO of Tala Police Station under whose jurisdiction the college falls, was arrested under similar charges.
The cancellation of Ghosh’s medical license was officially declared by the West Bengal Medical Council on September 19, following a show-cause notice issued on September 7 which required Ghosh to respond within three days. Due to his custody status at the time, Ghosh failed to respond to the council’s notice, culminating in the revocation of his registration.
This legal action followed intense demands from the medical community in West Bengal, including prominent figures like former Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member and medical practitioner Santanu Sen, who vocally supported the cancellation of Ghosh’s medical registration. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) had also urged the council to take swift action regarding his license.
