Amicus Curiae Appointed for Suo-Motu PIL on ragging menace in Gujarat medical Colleges

Ahmedabad: While considering the suo-motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on ragging menace in education institutes in the State, the High Court bench has appointed Advocate Amit Panchal as the Amicus Curiae in the case.

Posting the matter for further hearing on February 27, the bench of Chief Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice AJ Shastri has directed the commissioners of technical education, higher education and the health department to file their affidavits.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that taking cognizance of the instances of ragging at a private medical college in Vadodara, the Gujarat High Court had initiated a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on the issue of 'Ragging Menace' in educational institutes of the State.

The bench comprising Chief Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Ashutosh Shastri had impleaded the Commissioner of Health, Medical Services, Medical Education and Research, Principal Secretary, Higher and Technical Education, Commissionerate of Higher Education, and the Commissioner of Technical Education and issued notices to them.

Such a step had been taken by the HC bench on the basis of news report in a local bulletin regarding the recent incident of ragging in a private medical college of Vadodara district. The report had been published on in the newspaper on 03.01.2023. 

Also Read: HC takes cognizance of Ragging Menace in Gujarat Medical Colleges, Issues notice

As per a media report on January 3, three senior residents of the orthopaedic department had been suspended by the medical college for ragging a Jamnagar-based student.

In this regard, the Gujarat State Law Commission (GSLC) had submitted a report to the State and recommended a law for curbing the instances of ragging in the State.

After taking cognizance of the ragging menace, the High Court had listed the matter for further hearing on January 30, 2023.

Ahmedabad Mirror adds that while considering the matter on Monday, the HC bench inquired about the norms under which complaints can be made regarding the instances of ragging. Responding to this, the counsel for the State submitted that an institute can take action on their own by forming a ragging committee, complying with the rules prescribed by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the National Medical Commission.

In this context, the State counsel also referred to an example of the BJ Medical College suspending three of its students for three academic terms in connection with ragging case. The State Counsel further informed the bench that affidavits have been prepared by the State and it will be submitted in the Registry of the High Court.

Thereafter, the bench appointed advocate Panchal as the Amicus Curiae in the suo-motu case and asked the HC registry for supplying him with all the case-related papers.

Also Read: 2nd year MBBS student found involved in Indore MGM College ragging case