Health secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam could face removal from office after the mother of the RG Kar rape-murder victim alleged that he ordered the demolition of a toilet near the hospital seminar hall where her daughter’s body was found. Chief Minister Shubhendu Adhikari said Nigam would be transferred if the allegation was established.
The exchange took place at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Friday during an All India Medical Association conference organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad’s doctors’ wing. The victim’s mother, Ratna Debnath, who is also described in the report as a BJP MLA from Panihati, raised the allegation in the chief minister’s presence and questioned why Nigam continued to serve as health secretary.
The RG Kar case had triggered a statewide junior doctors’ movement after the rape and murder of an on-duty doctor. During that period, protesters repeatedly demanded action against senior health department officials, including Nigam. The report says several police officers faced action after the change in government, while Nigam remained in his post.
Debnath alleged that Nigam had ordered the demolition of the toilet adjoining the seminar hall. She also claimed that the emergency department building, which was damaged during vandalism on the night of August 14, 2024, had not been repaired, while part of the toilet near the seminar hall was repaired quickly. She said the Central Bureau of Investigation’s status report submitted to the Supreme Court referred to allegations concerning the former RG Kar principal, Sandip Ghosh, including the timing of the post-mortem order.
The victim’s mother handed a copy of the CBI status report to the chief minister during the event. She said accountability within the health department was necessary to remove what she described as a climate of fear and corruption. She also alleged that several senior officials would have to face suspension for corruption to be addressed.
Adhikari said responsibility for hospital maintenance rested with the Public Works Department rather than the health department. He said the work had been carried out by the Public Works Department and that permission from the Calcutta High Court was required before repairs could be undertaken in the damaged portion of the emergency building.
The chief minister said that if Nigam had issued the instruction to demolish the toilet, he would be transferred quickly. Adhikari also said he had suspended three Indian Police Service officers after taking office and had cleared pending files. He added that the government would pursue all actions permitted by law in the victim’s case.
The victim’s father expressed confidence in the chief minister, while her mother said the family expected justice. The immediate administrative question is whether any official record confirms who ordered the demolition or repair work. The chief minister’s stated next step is to examine the allegations and act if the order is found to have come from Nigam.
