RG Kar Impasse: Bengal Govt Says Doctors’ Mass Resignation Move Has ‘No Legal Standing’, Cites Service Rules

Alapan Bandyopadhyay, chief advisor to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee explained that the collective letters lacked specific addressing, making them symbolic rather than official.

Members of Citizen Forum during a protest towards CBI office, demanding justice over the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor, in Kolkata, Saturday, Oct.12, 2024.

Source : PTI

The West Bengal government announced on Saturday that the mass resignations submitted by doctors from state-run hospitals are not valid, as they must be submitted individually as per the service rules.

Various doctors collectively signed resignation letters demanding justice for a post-graduate trainee who was raped and murdered at Kolkata's R G Kar Medical College and Hospital. They were also supporting junior doctors who were on a hunger strike pressing for their demands.

"Unless an employee sends in his/her resignation personally to the employer as per service rules, it is not a resignation letter," Alapan Bandyopadhyay, chief advisor to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, news agency PTI reported. He explained that the collective letters lacked specific addressing, making them symbolic rather than official.

#WATCH | Howrah: Chief advisor to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Alapan Bandyopadhyay says, "There has been confusion recently regarding the so-called resignation of senior doctors working in government medical colleges and hospitals. We have been receiving certain letters which… pic.twitter.com/2jP1dkhCkJ

— ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2024

Mass Resignation From Other State-Run Hospitals

Bandyopadhyay also noted the government's intention to address confusion surrounding the resignations of senior doctors from hospitals like R G Kar Medical College, IPGMER, and SSKM Hospital.

Earlier this week, senior doctors at R G Kar Medical College submitted a "mass resignation" letter in solidarity with junior colleagues. Similar letters were later sent from other state-run hospitals.

According to a report by PTI, Junior doctors from various government hospitals of the state are also in a fast-unto-death demand of justice for the murder of their colleague, the resignation of the state's health secretary, and improved workplace safety.

Despite these protests, the government assured that healthcare services remain unaffected, with senior doctors continuing their duties. The junior doctors from state-run medical colleges and hospitals had called off their 'total cease work' on October 4.

The government noted that the resignations are seen as a symbolic act of solidarity from senior doctors with their junior counterparts.