Facing mounting pressure from all sides, the West Bengal government has withdrawn the appointment order of Sandeep Ghosh, former principal of R.G. Kar Medical College, as the principal of National Medical College. This announcement was made on Wednesday evening by State Health Secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam. On August 12, Sandeep Ghosh had submitted his resignation from government service as the principal of R.G. Kar Medical College. However, instead of accepting his resignation, the state government had appointed him as the principal of National Medical College.

His appointment triggered a political storm in recent days. The opposition questioned why someone facing corruption allegations was appointed principal after his resignation was rejected. Even the High Court intervened, asking what vested interest the state government had in appointing Sandeep Ghosh. The court directed that if Ghosh did not go on extended leave by 3 PM on the said day, strict action would be taken against him. Furthermore, the court issued an indefinite ban on his appointment as principal or to any equivalent post at National Medical or any other institution.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court also raised concerns, questioning how he could be given a new assignment after submitting his resignation.

Amid these developments, medical students staged a protest at the State Health Department on Wednesday, demanding that Ghosh’s appointment as principal of National Medical College be cancelled. The Health Secretary later confirmed that the government accepted the students’ demand.

It’s worth noting that the day after Ghosh’s appointment on August 12, students launched a protest inside the campus, staging a sit-in outside the principal’s office. The following day, when TMC MLA Swarnakamal Saha and Minister Javed Khan tried to mediate with the protesters, they were met with slogans like “Go Back.” The decision to reinstate Sandeep Ghosh even drew criticism within the ruling Trinamool Congress, with several party leaders — including Rajya Sabha MP Jawhar Sircar — expressing dissatisfaction with the move.