HC Committee to probe allegations of ragging at Haldwani Medical College

The committee will consist of the Commissioner, Kumaon Division and the DIG, Kumaon Division "who shall immediately inspect the premises, examined the video footage available and also examined the students and take appropriate action," mentioned the March 9 order of the HC division bench comprising of acting Chief Justice Sanjay Kumar Mishra and Justice RC Khulbe.

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported about the alleged ragging incident after a suspected ragging video, sharing students with tonsured heads walking in the queue with hands behind their backs shocked the social media. The authorities earlier had ordered a probe into the matter.

In addition, a division bench of Uttarakhand HC has handed down an order directing the police to complete the inquiry within two weeks and register it as a criminal case.

Also Read: Shaven Heads, Hands tied back: Alleged Ragging video at Haldwani Medical College goes viral

During the hearing of the case on March 9, the HC bench reviewed the video clip which supported the contentions of the petitioner in the PIL that 1^st year MBBS students were tonsured, their hands were tied at their back and they were paraded in the day time and a guard of the college was following them.

"If it is an act of ragging, the action shall be punishable under the Anti Ragging Act. The National Medical Council should also look into the matter," HC mentioned in its order.

Apart from the directions to register a criminal case into the matter, the HC bench also directed to form a committee to probe the matter.

"In the interregnum, we form a committee consisting of the Commissioner, Kumaon Division and the DIG, Kumaon Division who shall immediately inspect the premises, examined the video footage available and also examined the students and take appropriate action. They are at liberty to lodge criminal cases against the guilty party," HC mentioned in its order.

The matter has been listed on 23.03.2022 under fresh admission category.

Filing the Public Interest Litigation (PIL), the petitioner has prayed for-

"(i) Issue a writ in the nature of mandamus or nay other appropriate writ/order directing the respondent no. 1 to 5 take necessary and permanent measures to prohibit ragging through out the Higher Educational Institutions (imparting education of graduation, post graduation and professional courses) so that the said barbaric, brutal Taliban type ragging could not occur in future in any of the higher educations institutions: and/or

(ii) Issue a writ in the nature of ad-interim mandamus or any other appropriate writ/order directing the Respondent NO. 6 to 7 to unearth the entire incident of barbaric, brutal Taliban type ragging as stated in the present petition and to take necessary legal action against the reap perpetrators; and/or

(iii) Issue a writ in the nature of mandamus or any other appropriate writ/order directing the respondent no. 1 and 2 to takeover the management of respondent no. 4 during the investigation of the respondent no. 6 & 7; and/or
(iv) Issue a writ in the nature of mandamus or any other appropriate writ/order directing the respondent no. 1, 2, 3 and 5 to strictly comply the provisions of 'UGC Regulations on Curbing the Menace of Ragging in Higher Educational Institutions, 2009' and the directions dated 08.05.2009 of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Civil Appeal 887 of 2009 besides the law laid down (2009) 15 SCC 301 titled as University of Kerala Vs. Council of Principals of Colleges in Kerala & Others; (2001) 6 SCC 577 titled as Vishwa Jagriti Mission Through President vs. Central Govt. through Cabinet Secretary & Others."

To read the court order, click on the link below.

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/haldwani-medical-college-ragging-172356.pdf