Calcutta High Court Criticizes State for Appointing Dr. Sandip Ghosh to New Post Amid Outrage Over Victim-Blaming Allegations

Last Updated on August 14, 2024 by News Desk

The Calcutta High Court has criticized the State’s decision to reward Dr. Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College, with a new post hours after he resigned amid allegations that he engaged in victim-blaming of the 31-year-old junior doctor found dead on campus. Autopsy reports indicated that the victim was subjected to rape before she was murdered. Amid nationwide outrage, several petitions were filed for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the matter.

A Bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya expressed anguish over the incident, terming it gruesome. The court also took critical note of allegations that after the victim was found dead, the college principal tried to victim blame and link her death to psychosis. The Bench also grilled the State on the manner in which the case was initially dealt with.The Court took a dim view of the fact that the principal has now been appointed to another medical college (the Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital). If he has stepped down citing some moral responsibility etc., it is rather surprising that you (State) should reward him in less than 12 hours. He is virtually the guardian of all the doctors working there. If he doesn’t show any sympathy or empathy, then who else would show? He should be kept at home. Your client (the principal) shouldn’t be working anywhere.

The State later attempted to justify the course of action the police took. The State counsel asserted that whenever there is an unnatural death and nobody comes with a complaint immediately, an unnatural death is always recorded when a serious crime is occurring. There are reasons behind this. The State counsel asserted that there was no delay in registering a first information report (FIR) immediately after a complaint was received.

The Court eventually made it clear that Dr. Ghosh cannot be allowed to continue functioning as a principal, even in his new assignment, in light of the allegations against him. The Court will resume hearing the matter around 2.45 PM.

Another aspect taken note by the Court today concerned allegations that there was an attempt to cover up the crime. The parents of the victim were initially told by the college administration that their daughter was ill and later that she had died by suicide. The State refuted these allegations and assured the Court that a transparent probe was being conducted.