Page 7 - Bengal Doctors Strike

CBI conducts second round of polygraph tests on RG Kar ex-principal, others

The CBI on Monday started a second round of polygraph tests on former RG Kar Medical College and Hospital (RGKMCH) principal Sandip Ghosh and five others as part of their investigation into the rape-murder of a woman doctor at the institution. According to an officer, over the last 10 days, Ghosh provided inconsistent answers during questioning, prompting officers to conduct another round of polygraph tests. The CBI initially conducted the lie-detection tests on Ghosh and five others on Saturday, followed by a test on arrested accused Sanjay Roy at the Presidency Correctional Home on Sunday. Additionally, Ghosh and former medical superintendent and vice-principal Sanjay Vashisth are also being investigated for alleged financial irregularities within the institute. The case centres on the rape-murder of a postgraduate trainee woman doctor in the seminar hall of the hospital on August 9. A civic volunteer was arrested in connection with the crime the next day. The gruesome crime ...

SC-appointed task force on doctors' safety to hold first meeting on Tuesday

The Supreme Court-appointed National Task Force (NTF) to formulate a protocol for ensuring the safety and security of doctors and other healthcare professionals will hold its first meeting on Tuesday, sources said. The 10-member task force was constituted by the apex court last week after it took suo moto cognisance of the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital which sparked widespread protests including by healthcare staff, impacting medical services. The Supreme Court had said the cabinet secretary, home secretary, health secretary, National Medical Commission chairperson and the National Board of Examinations president shall be the ex-officio members of the task force. The members of the task force include Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, Director General (Medical Services, Navy); Dr D Nageshwar Reddy, the Chairman and Managing Director of Asian Institute of Gastroenterology and AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad; Dr M Srinivas, the ...

Goa sets up task force committee for safety of medical professionals

Goa is the first state to announce the setting up of a task force committee dedicated to safety of medical professionals, minister Vishwajit Rane said on Monday. The announcement about the committee, which comes in the backdrop of the August 9 rape-murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata, was made earlier in the day. "Goa has become the first state to set up such a committee. In line with Supreme Court's guidelines, we are committed to ensuring the safety and security of doctors at Goa Medical College (GMC). The task force will be chaired by GMC Dean Dr SM Bandekar," he said. "Its members will be Heads of Departments from Forensic Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pathology, Respiratory Medicine, Emergency and Trauma, Psychiatry, as well as the Director of Academics, the Hospital Matron, representatives from the Student Council, the Advisor to the Health Minister etc," Rane added. Apart from this, the demands of the Goa Association of Resident Doctors' (GARD), like enhancing ...

Kolkata medic death: Several Durga Puja committees reject govt's honorarium

As calls for justice for the RG Kar victim intensify, several Durga Puja committees in West Bengal have rejected the Rs 85,000 honorarium offered by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee saying they cannot accept help from the government when women have taken to the streets demanding security. Rina Das, president of Bhadrakali Bouthan Sangha in Hooghly, explained, "We have decided to boycott this grant this year to honour the sentiments of our members who are deeply upset over the brutal attack on the postgraduate trainee doctor at her workplace. We had received this grant for several years in the past." Prasenjit Bhattacharya from Uttarpara Shakti Sangha echoed similar sentiments, saying, "This is a symbolic protest. We will not accept the money until those involved in this heinous crime are apprehended and brought to justice." Other committees, including Lalgola Krishnapur Sanyasitala in Murshidabad and Bethuadahari Town Club in Nadia, have also notified local authorities of their decisi

CBI names RG Kar Hospital's former principal Sandip Ghosh in corruption FIR

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has named Sandip Ghosh, former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in the FIR the agency has filed in connection with its probe into the alleged financial irregularities at the institution during his tenure. The agency has slapped Section 120B of IPC (criminal conspiracy) read with Section 420 IPC (cheating and dishonesty) and Section 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (amended in 2018) which covers unlawful acceptance of gratification by a public servant. The cases read together account for cognisable offences and are non-bailable in nature, a senior Calcutta High Court lawyer said. Besides Ghosh, the CBI has also registered cases against one M/s Ma Tara Traders of Madhya Jorehat, Banipur, Howrah, M/s Eshan Cafe of 4/1, H/1, JK Ghosh Road, Belgachhia, Kolkata and one M/s Khama Louha. The FIR was lodged on the basis of a written complaint lodged by Debal Kumar Ghosh, special secretary to the state health department. PTI

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CBI takes over probe into 'financial irregularities' at RG Kar College

The CBI on Saturday took over the case of alleged financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata during the tenure of former principal Sandip Ghosh, officials said. The action came on the directions of the Calcutta High Court which transferred the probe to the agency from a state-constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT). The CBI collected necessary documents from the SIT on Saturday and proceeded to re-register the FIR, the official said. The high court had issued directives on a petition by former deputy superintendent of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Akhtar Ali, who requested a probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into alleged financial misconduct at the medical college during the tenure of Ghosh. The college has come into media glare following the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor on the campus on August 9, they said. The high court had directed the CBI to submit a progress report on the investigation within three weeks. The

Healthcare svcs affected in Bengal as junior docs continue ceasework

Healthcare services were affected at state-run hospitals in West Bengal on Saturday as junior doctors continued their ceasework for the 16th consecutive day to protest the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital. Senior doctors were attending to patients at the emergency services at government hospitals. "Our protest will continue till justice is served to our sister. There cannot be any alternative to that," an agitating doctor at theKMCH told PTI. The Supreme Court on Thursday reiterated its appeal to the doctors protesting over the rape and killing of the medic to resume work and directed that no coercive action would be taken against them. The court said judges and doctors cannot strike since they deal with matters involving life and liberty. Apart from demanding justice for the woman medic, the junior doctors have been pressing for the removal of several people in theKMCH's administration. Bowing to their demand, the West Ben

Kolkata rape: Relief to patients as doctors' associations call off strike

The protests by resident doctors at government hospitals in several states across the country ended on Thursday as major doctors' associations called off their 11-day strike over the rape-murder of a trainee medic in Kolkata after the Supreme Court made an appeal to them to resume work. However, in West Bengal, the epicentre of the protests, healthcare services remained affected at state-run hospitals as agitating junior doctors said they would continue their ceasework. "We have decided to continue our ceasework because justice is yet to be delivered. The Supreme Court has avoided the justice part. We must not forget that getting justice for our sister is our prime goal," one of the protesting doctors told PTI. In the national capital, doctors at major hospitals, including AIIMS, RML, LNJP and Maulana Azad Medical College, ended their strike that commenced on August 12. Following the apex court's appeal and directions about safety of doctors, the Federation of Resident Doctors ...

Medic murder: Healthcare svcs affected in WB as doctors continue ceasework

Healthcare services were severely hit at state-run hospitals in West Bengal on Friday as junior doctors continued their ceasework for the 15th consecutive day to protest against the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital (RGKMCH) here. They decided to continue the stir despite the Supreme Court's appeal to them to resume work. "Our protest will continue till we see the culprits punished. We are not here for anything else. We cannot call off the demonstration suddenly unless our demand is fulfilled," an agitating doctor at the RGKMCH told PTI. The Supreme Court on Thursday reiterated its appeal to the doctors protesting over the rape and killing of the medic to resume work and directed that no coercive action would be taken against them. The court said judges and doctors cannot strike since they deal with matters involving life and liberty. The flow of patients at the different government hospitals seemed to dry up as the ceasew

Kolkata rape-murder: CBI seeks polygraph test of ex-principal, 4 others

The CBI on Thursday sought a polygraph test on former RG Kar Medical College and Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh and four other doctors in connection with the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee at the medical facility, officials said. The CBI took Ghosh and four other junior doctors, who were on duty on the date of the incident on August 9, to the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate's court at Sealdah in north Kolkata, for seeking its permission to conduct the lie detection test on them, they said. The test can only be done after permission from the court and the consent of the suspect, the officials said. An in-camera closed-door hearing on the matter took place before the ACJM this evening. The CBI has already prayed for a polygraph test on the arrested Kolkata Police civic volunteer Sanjay Roy, the prime suspect in the case, and is awaiting the court's nod for going ahead with the test. On Thursday, the Supreme Court set a 5 pm deadline on Friday inside which th

Aiims, RML's doctors call off 11-day strike after SC appeal, assurances

Doctors at Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Thursday announced that they were calling off their 11-day strike, to protest the rape and murder of a Kolkata doctor, following an appeal from the Supreme Court. The apex court earlier in the day asked protesting doctors to resume work and assured them that no adverse action would be taken after they rejoin. "We are resuming duties following the Supreme Court's appeal and assurances and intervention in the RG Kar incident and safety for doctors . We commend the Court's action and call for adherence to its directives. Patient care remains our top priority," the AIIMS Resident Doctors' Association said in a post on X. On August 12, doctor associations started a nationwide protest, halting OPD services. Emergency services continued as usual. The brutal assault and murder of the junior doctor sparked nationwide protests. Her body was found on August 9 with severe injury marks inside the seminar hall of the state-run

Kolkata rape: SC terms 'extremely disturbing' delay in registering death

The Supreme Court on Thursday commenced hearing a suo motu case related to the rape and murder of a postgraduate medic at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra is hearing the matter. The top court on Tuesday had constituted a 10-member National Task Force (NTF) to formulate a protocol for ensuring the safety and security of doctors and other health care professionals. Terming the incident as "horrific", the apex court had excoriated the state government over the delay in filing the FIR and allowing thousands of miscreants to vandalise the state-run facility. The alleged rape and murder of the junior doctor in a seminar hall of the state-run hospital has sparked nationwide protests. The medic's body with severe injury marks was found inside the seminar hall of the hospital's chest department on August 9. A civic volunteer was arrested by the Kolkata Police in connection with th

WB health dept removes 3 officials of RG Kar hospital on doctors' demands

The West Bengal government on Wednesday removed three senior officials of the RG Kar hospital, bowing to the demand of junior doctors who have been protesting against the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee in the state-run health facility. As per their demand, RG Kar hospital's former principal Dr Sandip Ghosh, who was shifted to Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital as its principal, was also removed from that position, state Health Secretary NS Nigam said. The three senior officials of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital (RGKMCH) were transferred to various state-run health facilities, he said. According to an order issued on Wednesday evening, Prof (Dr) Bulbul Mukhopadhyay, the Medical Superintendent and Vice Principal of the RG Kar hospital was replaced by Saptarshi Chatterjee with immediate effect. Manas Kumar Bandyopadhyay was named as the new principal of RGKMCH, replacing Suhrita Paul, who was made the principal of the Barasat Government Medical

Health ministry issues office memorandum on task force for medicos' safety

The panel will be headed by Cabinet Secretary, Government of India as its Chairperson has been constituted following the Supreme Court's direction on August 20

Medic murder: Doctors strike continues, healthcare svcs crippled in Bengal

Healthcare services remained affected at state-run hospitals in West Bengal on Wednesday, as junior doctors continued their ceasework for the 13th consecutive day to protest against the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee at RG Kar hospital here. Senior doctors have been asked to report for duty in place of the junior medics at several hospitals, even as the state government urged the protestors again to resume work, officials said. "Our stir will continue until we ensure justice for our sister. We understand that patients are facing problems, but our demands are justified," a junior doctor told PTI. The trainee doctor's body with severe injury marks was found inside the seminar hall of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital's chest department on August 9. Services at outpatient departments and non-emergency units were crippled, as long queues of patients were seen outside ticket counters of state-run hospitals. "We are not issuing tickets until there is confirmatio

Kolkata doc rape-murder: SC orders removal of name, photo, video of victim

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the removal of the name, photos and videos of a trainee doctor, who was raped and murdered in Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, from all social media platforms. A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud said disclosure of the identity of a victim of sexual assault is a violation of its order passed in the Nipun Saxena case. "The pictures and video clips of the body of the deceased has been circulating on social media...we direct that name, photographs and video clippings of the deceased be immediately removed from all social media platforms," the bench, also comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, said. The top court was hearing a plea filed by lawyer Kinnori Ghosh and others against the disclosure of the victim medic's identity on social media. Earlier in the day, the apex court had said it was deeply concerned that the name of the deceased, who was assaulted and murdered, was published all over social ...

West Bengal in state of flux, people have lost faith in present govt: Guv

Terming the alleged rape and murder of a woman doctor in a Kolkata hospital as the "most shameful moment" for society, Governor C V Ananda Bose claimed that West Bengal is in a "state of flux" and the people have "lost faith in the present government". Referring to a recent rally organised by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to demand justice for the deceased trainee doctor, Bose questioned her stance and alleged that her statements were merely rhetorical. In an interview with PTI, Bose said, "Bengal is in a state of flux. Students have lost faith in the government, youths are scared and women are in a state of despair. There is a feeling that the government, which is supposed to protect the citizens, is not doing its role." The postgraduate trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered while on duty at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital here on August 9. The healthcare services were severely affected at state-run hospitals across West Bengal as the ceasework agitation by juni

Amid outrage, Bengal's Health Dept revokes transfer order of 42 doctors

He explained that the transfer process is part of the promotional exercise within the Medical Education Service, a lengthy procedure that began two months ago

Too little, too late: IMA on forming panel to mull on law to protect medics

The health ministry's decision to form a panel for deliberating on a central law to protect healthcare workers is "too little and too late" as it just needs political will to bring a legislation on the matter, IMA chief Dr R V Asokan said on Friday. As resident doctors across the country held protests over the alleged rape and killing of a trainee women doctor in a state-run medical college and hospital in Kolkata, demanding a central law to protect them, Asokan told PTI that the government is reluctant to acknowledge that there is violence against doctors and hospitals. "But you cannot run away from the reality," he said. There is a draft bill that was prepared in 2019 after stakeholders' consultation but it never went to Parliament, he pointed out. "There is a thinking in the government to refer it to an expert committee to look at the possibility of a bill, but that will be too little and too late. Because, everything is in place. It only needs political will to push the button,