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

Ahmedabad: Taking cognizance of the instance of ragging at a private medical college in Vadodara, the Gujarat High Court has 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 has 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.

Listing the matter for further hearing on January 30, 2023, the bench also directed them to submit affidavit for taking steps to contain the issue. In this regard, the bench noted in the order, "Mr.K.M.Antani, learned Assistant Government Pleader accepts and waives notice for said respondents. List this matter on 30.01.2023 to enable the above authorities to state on affidavit about steps taken to contain and prevent ragging incidents in schools and colleges."

Also Read: NMC gives stern warning to Maha Medical College on complaints of Ragging, issues advisory

As per the latest media report by Live Law, the High Court has initiated the suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on the basis of a 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.

Referring to this, the Court said, “It is a communication addressed to one of us by a sitting Judge of this Court highlighting the issue of ragging menace occurring in the State of Gujarat by enclosing the paper publication of ‘Ahmedabad Mirror’. Having regard to the said menace as highlighted by the ‘Ahmedabad Mirror’, a local bulletin, on 3rd January 2023, we are of the considered view that the concerned departments have to be called for to state on affidavit, the steps taken to contain the same.”

As per the concerned news report, the medical student's father had filed the complaint on December 27 after his son left their home intending to commit suicide. The student was allegedly depressed after being ragged and therefore was rescued from a railway station.

In the news article it had been mentioned that the concerned first-year resident doctor had complained that two senior resident doctors had allegedly abused him in public, extorted money from him and compelled him to work like a bonded labourer.

Impleading the concerned authorities of the State, the HC bench mentioned in the judgment, "Having regard to the said menace as highlighted by the ‘Ahmedabad Mirror’, a Local Bulletin on 03.01.2023, we are of the considered view that concerned departments may be called for to state on affidavit about steps taken to contain the same."

The matter will be heard next on January 30, 2023.

To read the order, click on the link below:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/gujarat-hc-order-197515.pdf

Also Read: Anti-ragging committee of BJ Medical College probes complaint against three senior resident doctors