Calcutta High Court Seeks Response from West Bengal Government on Posting of Junior Doctors

A Calcutta High Court judge has sought a response from the West Bengal government on whether the matter of posting three junior doctors who were the face of the protests at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital should be heard by the High Court or the state tribunal. The three doctors, Debasish Haldar, Aniket Mahato, and Asfaqullah Naiya, were at the forefront of the protests that took place after the August 9 rape and murder of their colleague. The government has transferred them to district hospitals, which the doctors claim is an attempt to punish them for leading the protests.

Key Takeaways:

• The Calcutta High Court has sought a response from the West Bengal government on whether the matter of posting three junior doctors should be heard by the High Court or the state tribunal.
• The three doctors, Debasish Haldar, Aniket Mahato, and Asfaqullah Naiya, were transferred to district hospitals after leading protests over the rape and murder of their colleague.
• The doctors contend that their transfer is arbitrary and alleges that the state government is punishing them for leading the protests.
• The three doctors were initially posted to hospitals they had opted for, but were later transferred to district hospitals barely three months after getting their postings.
• Only three out of 800 doctors have not been given posts in the hospitals they had opted for.
• The bond signed by students of state-run medical colleges requires them to provide three years of service, including two years at state-run hospitals.
• The next hearing in the case is scheduled on Tuesday.

Statistics:

• 800: The total number of doctors employed by the West Bengal government.
• 3: The number of doctors who have not been given posts in the hospitals they had opted for.
• 2 years: The period a doctor is required to work at a state-run hospital as part of a three-year bond.
• 1 year: The period a doctor is required to work at a state-run multi-speciality hospital in a village as part of a three-year bond.
• 2025: The current year, as mentioned in the text.

Sources:

• IE Online Media Services Pvt. Ltd.
• Contify.com