CCTV Must, record viva exams: Delhi Govt directs medical colleges to ensure safety of female medicos

New Delhi: Prioritising the safety of female medical students, the Delhi Government has directed all the hospitals and medical colleges under the Delhi Government to ensure that all the CCTV cameras installed there are functional at all times and video feeds are stored properly.

Issuing a circular on 26.03.2024, the Health and Family Welfare Department of the Delhi Govt also directed to ensure that CCTV cameras are covering all relevant areas to ensure the safety and security of all female students.

These directions from the Government come after recently the medical students at a Delhi government-run hospital were allegedly sexually harassed by an assistant professor in the department of pharmacology.

"All the MS/ MD/Dean/ Director and Principal of Hospitals & Medical Colleges under GNCTD are hereby directed to ensure that all the CCTV Cameras installed in the Hospitals/Medical Colleges are functioning all the time and video feed are stored safely," read the circular dated 26.03.2024.

"Further, it is to be ensure that necessary CCTV provisions be made immediately to cover all relevant areas to ensure safety and security of all girl students in all Medical Colleges," the circular further stated.

Also Read: 13 female MBBS students accuse Assistant Professor of Pharmacology of sexual harassment

The Government also directed to arrange for audio-video recordings in the viva-voces of all the female students taken by male faculties in all medical colleges. Until such arrangements are made, directions have been issued to deploy a female observer during such interviews.

"Also, there must be proper arrangement of audio-video recording in viva-voices of all girl students in all Medical Colleges taken by the male faculties within a week's time, and till such time, a female observer shall be deployed during such viva-voices to ensure safety and security of the girl students," the circular stated.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported about the recent incident where 13 female MBBS students from Delhi-based Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College accused an Assistant Professor of Pharmacology of sexual harassment during a viva examination. Writing to the Principal of the medical college, a student belonging to the 2021 MBBS batch stated that the alleged incident took place during a practical exam in the pharmacology department.

Also Read: 13 MBBS Students in Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College Accuse Pharmacology AP of Sexual Harassment

A few days later, the Vigilance department asked the Health department to send a proposal for initiating disciplinary action against the accused professor. In a formal letter addressed to the Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department, the Vigilance Directorate said, "From the media, it is also observed that at least two students have recorded their statement under Section 164 of Cr. P.C. It is also reported in the media that the accused was arrested and was booked under sections 354(A) and 509 of the IPC.”

“It is requested to send the proposal for initiating necessary disciplinary action against the accused professor to the Directorate of Vigilance, Delhi government, for placing before the Competent Authority as per extant rules,” it said.