AIIMS Rishikesh: Expelled Junior Resident accuses Director of sexually harassing her

Rishikesh: Controversy surrounded the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh after an expelled junior accused the Director of the Institute of sexually harassing her. The director in his defence called out the accusations as a "desperate attempt" to harm his reputation and avenge her expulsion

A junior resident expelled from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh has accused its director of sexually harassing her, a charge rubbished by him as a desperate attempt to damage his reputation.

Confirming the development, AIIMS, Rishikesh Director Ravikant said the Vishakha committee of the institute has been entrusted with the task of probing the charges against him.

However, he said the accusation was a "desperate attempt" by the woman to harm his reputation and avenge her expulsion from the institute in November last year.

The junior resident (dental) had been expelled after the wife of a senior resident, one Dr Ahlawat (orthopaedic) lodged a complaint with Ravikant, accusing her of having an illicit affair with her husband.

Acting on the basis of the complaint, both Ahlawat and the junior resident were expelled from the institute to save its reputation, Ravikant said.

The Director said after the junior resident's expulsion, he received several calls from political heavyweights to reinstate her, but he did not buckle under pressure.

"She even sent me an e-mail requesting her reinstatement. When she was not reinstated, she slapped the sexual harassment charge on me. It is a baseless charge and the Vishakha committee will give me a clean chit," Ravikant added.

AIIMS, Rishikesh is one of the SIX AIIMS like apex healthcare institutes being established by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna (PMSSY).

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh came into existence as an institute of National Importance through an Act of parliament. The All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (Amendment) Bill, 2012,was passed in the Lok Sabha on August 30,2012 and in Rajya Sabha on September 4, 2012. This Act enabled the Rishikesh AIIMS to be an autonomous body on the lines of the existing AIIMS, Delhi.