“No man is above the law...”: Calcutta High Court Orders Extended Leave for Former RG Kar Principal Amid PGT Doctor's Rape and Murder Probe

The Calcutta High Court has mandated that Dr. (Prof) Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, take an extended leave following the brutal rape and murder of a doctor on the campus. Dr. Ghosh, who had resigned from RG Kar Medical College amidst escalating protests, was promptly appointed as the principal of Calcutta National Medical College (CNMC) shortly after his resignation.

The Calcutta High Court questioned the rapid reappointment, expressing concern over what it saw as a lack of appropriate response to the situation. "If the principal has stepped down owing to moral responsibility, it is rather serious that he is rewarded within 12 hours with another appointment. There is an apprehension that with lost time there is something that will go wrong," noted the Calcutta High Court.

The court also stated that the role of the principal is as a guardian for the staff and questioned Dr. Ghosh’s ability to empathize with the situation. “The Principal is the guardian of all doctors working there...if he doesn’t show any empathy, who will?” the court remarked, adding that Dr. Ghosh should be at home and not engaged in any professional duties.

The Calcutta High Court was hearing a batch of petitions related to the brutal rape and murder of a PGT doctor at RG Kar Medical College. Among the petitions was one from the doctor’s parents, who requested a court-monitored investigation into their daughter’s death. The parents also sought to have Dr. Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College, impleaded in the case. They argued that, as principal, Dr. Ghosh should not be able to evade responsibility. “He was the principal... he cannot shrug off the responsibility and must be impleaded as accused,” they contended.
“No man is above the law... How did he step down and then be rewarded with another responsibility?” noted the Calcutta High Court. The court demanded that the police submit the case diary by 2 p.m. and directed that Dr. Ghosh’s resignation letter be filed for review.

Dr. (Prof) Sandip Ghosh had initially resigned on Monday citing the "humiliation" he faced on social media as a key reason for his resignation. “I cannot take the humiliation on social media. Political statements are being made in my name,” said the principal adding that the victim was like a daughter to him. Prof. (Dr.) Sandip Ghosh asserted that his resignation was driven by his role as a parent, reflecting his emotional response to the tragedy. Amidst allegations of victim-blaming, Dr. Ghosh has denied any such remarks. “Students are being provoked to ensure my removal,” he claimed. “I want the accused to be punished. I am being defamed. I have not made such remarks… The girl who died was like my daughter. I am also a parent. As a parent, I am resigning,” he added. However, he was reinstated as Principal of Calcutta Medical College and Hospital just 24 hours later.

The court also criticized the state's handling of the case, highlighting delays in providing information to the victim’s family and the distressing circumstances of the young woman’s death. It noted that the tragic events appeared not to have significantly impacted the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

The post-mortem report of the victim, a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College, revealed that she endured severe "genital torture." The report indicated that she was throttled before being smothered to death, with her thyroid cartilage broken due to strangulation. The assault occurred between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. during the wee hours of Friday morning. The report also detailed injuries to her belly, lips, fingers, and left leg.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has set a six-day deadline for the Kolkata police to resolve the case. If the police fail to do so by Sunday, Banerjee has announced that her government will request the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over the probe.

In response to the horrific crime, doctors across India have launched an indefinite strike, with the Indian Medical Association (IMA) demanding an impartial investigation and stronger safety measures for medical professionals. The Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA) has called for the resignation of those who failed to protect the victim and insists on stricter security protocols. The IMA is also pushing for a national law to safeguard doctors and designate hospitals as safe zones, criticizing existing state laws as inadequate. The strikes have severely impacted medical services, with reduced operations in Kolkata hospitals and major disruptions at facilities in cities like Lucknow, Mumbai, and Delhi, where surgeries and admissions have plummeted.​