The West Bengal government stated on Saturday that the recent mass resignation of doctors from state-run hospitals is not valid.
Officials said resignations must be submitted individually, as per service rules.
Senior doctors from medical colleges and state-run hospitals across West Bengal resigned en masse, triggering support from other medical institutions. Doctors at the College of Medicine, Sagore Dutta Hospital, and the Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (PGMER) also expressed solidarity. They are now planning to submit their resignations too, increasing pressure on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s government.
In response, Alapan Bandyopadhyay, Chief Advisor to the Chief Minister, clarified the government’s stance. He said that they would not accept mass resignations. According to Bandyopadhyay, resignations must be treated as individual matters between the employee and employer. This is in line with the service rules. He dismissed the collective letters, calling them a “misconception” and having “no legal value.”
"We have only received scattered letters from different government hospitals," he added, insisting that the mass resignations do not meet the required legal standards. The government’s stance has further escalated the standoff between the doctors and state officials.
The controversy began earlier this week when senior doctors at R G Kar Medical College signed a collective “mass resignation” letter.
This was done in solidarity with junior doctors protesting at various hospitals across the state. Soon after, similar letters were submitted by doctors from other state-run hospitals, adding fuel to the ongoing dispute.
Junior doctors at several government hospitals are currently on a hunger strike. They are demanding justice for a murdered colleague, the resignation of the state’s health secretary, and improved security measures at their workplaces. The situation has led to increased tensions and concerns about the state’s healthcare services.
The state government insists that collective resignations are not legally valid unless submitted on an individual basis. This position is backed by service rules that apply to government employees. Officials claim they are open to receiving and reviewing resignations if doctors follow the proper procedure. However, they do not recognise mass resignations as a legitimate form of protest.
The stand-off continues, with doctors insisting on their demands while the government refuses to bend on its legal interpretation. The healthcare crisis in West Bengal remains unresolved, and it is uncertain how long the situation will persist.
Follow us
