Kolkata: A group of doctors has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Calcutta High Court, seeking the reinstatement of Dr. Manas Chakraborty as the Registrar of the West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC) until a new appointment is made.
The petition, submitted on Monday before the Division Bench of Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam, urges the court to reinstate Dr. Chakraborty to ensure the smooth functioning of the WBMC’s administrative operations. The petitioners argued that his absence has disrupted essential tasks.
The court was also informed that the WBMC has already issued a recruitment notice for the positions of Registrar and Assistant Registrar. The matter is set for a hearing on Thursday, according to Millennium Post.
Court’s Previous Order on Dr. Chakraborty’s Removal
Earlier, Dr. Chakraborty was directed to resign voluntarily from his position on January 31. The Division Bench of Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya warned that if he did not step down by 5 p.m., he would be removed by court order.
Following this directive, Dr. Chakraborty resigned, ending a five-year tenure post-retirement. The court had raised concerns over his continued tenure beyond November 2019 without formal state government approval, a requirement under the Bengal Medical Act, 1914.
Controversy Surrounding Dr. Chakraborty
Dr. Chakraborty had previously issued a show-cause notice to Asfaqulla Naiya, a key figure in the junior doctors’ movement regarding the R.G. Kar rape and murder case. Naiya was accused of practicing as an ENT specialist without proper qualifications.
A police inquiry was also launched against Naiya, but earlier this month, a single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court granted him interim protection from arrest or coercive action.
With the PIL now in court, the WBMC leadership issue remains unresolved, and the High Court’s ruling will determine the council’s next course of action.
