West Bengal Medical Recruitment Faces Major Controversy
The West Bengal Health Recruitment Board has taken dramatic action following intense pressure from medical professionals. On Friday night, officials formally withdrew a recently published panel list for scheduled caste candidates seeking pathology assistant professor positions. This decision came just days after the initial announcement on Tuesday.
Allegations Spark Immediate Backlash
Medical organizations across West Bengal raised serious concerns about potential irregularities in the selection process. The Association of Health Service Doctors specifically named Birupaksha Biswas in their formal complaint to health authorities. According to their allegations, Biswas faced suspension during his senior residency at RG Kar Medical College while a departmental inquiry was pending.
"How can authorities possibly consider a doctor under suspension for a medical teaching position?" questioned ENT specialist Abhik Ghosh, who serves as secretary for Protect the Warriors and finance secretary for IMA Bengal. "We appreciate that officials have temporarily halted this list."
Multiple Candidates Under Scrutiny
The controversy extends beyond a single individual. Medical professionals also identified Soutrik Ray, listed for an assistant professor position in biochemistry. Allegations suggest Ray received dual government payments during 2019 while serving simultaneously as a medical officer at Jalpaiguri District Hospital and as a postgraduate trainee at North Bengal Medical College.
"Receiving two separate salaries from government funds constitutes clear financial misconduct," stated Utpal Bandyopadhyay, general secretary of AHSD Bengal. "An investigation into this matter remains ongoing. With Biswas already under scrutiny, we suspect additional questionable candidates might appear on these recruitment lists."
Recruitment Process Questioned
Medical organizations have raised fundamental concerns about the entire selection methodology. The Service Doctors' Forum highlighted unusual scoring practices during oral examinations. While examiners typically control five marks in viva voce assessments, recruiting authorities reportedly assigned an unprecedented fifteen marks, with officials distributing ten of those points directly.
"We urgently demand a judicial investigation into these matters," emphasized Durga Prasad Chakraboty and Sajal Biswas of SDF. "Authorities must identify responsible parties, cancel appointments obtained through unethical means, dissolve the current recruitment board, and return doctor recruitment responsibilities to the Public Service Commission."
Broader Implications for Medical Education
The controversy has damaged confidence in West Bengal's medical recruitment system. Head and neck oncology surgeon Saurav Datta expressed concern about the wider impact. "A small number of dishonest individuals within the recruitment board and medical education directorate are seriously damaging the government's reputation," Datta noted.
The recalled panel list contained ninety-six candidates for pathology assistant professor positions. Among these, sixteen candidates belonged to the scheduled caste category, including the individual now under investigation. While the official notice did not specify names, it acknowledged receiving information suggesting one candidate's potential ineligibility.
This developing situation continues to unfold as medical professionals maintain pressure for transparent and ethical recruitment practices throughout West Bengal's healthcare education system.
