Caught with nurse, doctor sent on leave

The superintendent of Asansol sub-divisional hospital, Dr Ranjit Mondal, and a nurse have been asked to go on indefinite leave after they were allegedly seen in an 'embarrassing position' in a room of the nurses' hostel late on Tuesday night.

A third employee of the hospital, medicine department staff and co-ordination committee leader Tarun Mukherjee, has also been told to go on leave on charge of irregularities, say sources. All three will face a departmental inquiry and action will be taken accordingly, said an official.

Some hospital employees apparently heard 'strange noises' coming from the nurses' hostel around 2am on Wednesday. Thinking thieves had entered, they alerted the security and emergency staff. When the nurses were asked to come out of their rooms, one nurse did not open her door. The employees forced in and saw the "hospital superintendent running away", said a source.

When the news spread in the morning, local residents, hospital staff and nurses started an agitation. Asansol SDO Sandip Dutta, mayor Tapas Banerjee and mayoral council member Rabiul Haq rushed to the hospital. Additional chief medical officer health Arita Chattoraj directed Dr Ranjit Mondal, the nurse and Tarun Mukherjee to go on leave. There were a lot of complaints against Mukherjee, say sources. Burdwan CMOH Tanmoy Mukherjee said that a senior doctor of the hospital will become the acting superintendent for the time being.

"The incident is shameful," said mayor Tapas Banerjee. "At a time when chief minister Mamata Banerjee is making surprise visits to hospitals, it's sad that Asansol sub-divisional hospital, which she upgraded only two days ago, has hardly improved."

Ranjit Mondal says he is innocent and that he is being framed by some people. The other two accused have not commented on the allegations against them.

The Asansol SDO, who is also the head of the Patient Kalyan Samity, has warned that all doctors should come on time and remain in hospital during duty hours, otherwise "stern action will be taken".