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RG Kar Protest Leaders Launch Legal Challenge Over Alleged Punitive Postings

The trio of junior doctors say their counselling-based assignments were switched to distant hospitals as retaliation for their roles in the protests.

Doctors and Nurses take out a march seeking justice for the RG Kar rape and murder victim, at CGO complex, Salt Lake, in Kolkata (ANI FILE PHOTO)
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Overview

  • Dr Debashish Halder, Dr Aniket Mahato and Dr Asfakulla Naiya report that their senior residency postings were switched from Howrah District, RG Kar Medical College and Arambagh Medical College to Gazole, Raiganj and Purulia hospitals, contrary to their counselling selections.
  • The doctors contend the timing and nature of the changes amount to punitive action in response to their leading roles in the protests following the August 2024 rape and murder at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
  • Health Secretary N S Nigam declined to meet the protesters at Swasthya Bhawan and advised them to lodge formal, written complaints instead.
  • The West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front has pledged to support a legal challenge, noting that only the three protest leaders—out of more than 800 junior doctors—received reassigned postings.
  • State health officials maintain that senior resident assignments are made according to hospital staffing needs and dismiss any suggestion of vindictive intent.