Fresh ragging complaint at GMC Bhavnagar: UGC flags alleged harassment in gynaecology dept days after ortho row

Rajkot: Another complaint of alleged ragging has surfaced at Bhavnagar Government Medical College (BGMC), just days after six resident doctors from the orthopaedics department were suspended in a ragging case.

This time, the complaint is related to the college's gynaecology department. A female student filed an online complaint to the University Grants Commission (UGC), whch informed the college that the student claimed to be harassed by five to six senior students.

According to the complaint, senior students allegedly demanded money from juniors for food and subjected them to punishments, including making them repeatedly write a sentence 100 times.

Also read- End Toxic culture! Doctors condemn GMC Bhavnagar ragging incident, demand strict action

Following the communication from the UGC, the college directed its anti-ragging committee to initiate an inquiry. The college initially submitted a preliminary report to the UGC. Subsequently, the UGC directed the institution to place the matter before its anti-ragging committee, which includes external members such as parents and students.

The committee met with the students on Tuesday, but no student came forward with allegations against senior students. The institute alleged that the identity of the complainant was not shared and she may be was not comfortable divulging information during the inquiry process.

Speaking to TOI, BGMC Dean Dr. Chinmay Shah said "The institution was not given the identity of the complainant. We received the communication from the UGC and convened a meeting of our internal anti-ragging squad on Monday. All 10 first-year students of the department were interviewed. They denied facing any kind of harassment. The students were spoken to together and individually, but no one reported any ragging."

Meanwhile, college authorities have instructed department heads and faculty members to remain vigilant and ensure that any complaints related to ragging are addressed promptly.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the administration of Government Medical College, Bhavnagar, suspended six resident doctors from the Orthopaedics Department of the institute. The suspension order was passed after a total of 13 junior resident doctors submitted complaints alleging that they were subjected to mental harassment, intimidation and abusive behaviour by six of their seniors over the last four months.

As per the complaint, even if one junior doctor made a mistake, all 13 first-year residents were allegedly called together, often late at night, and punished collectively by the seniors. The juniors further alleged that they were forced to repeatedly write the same sentence hundreds of times as punishment. Along with this, they were also made to stand outside operating theatres, wards and departmental premises throughout the night. They had to upload photographs in a WhatsApp group at regular intervals as proof that they remained standing at the designated locations.

Also read- 6 orthopaedic resident doctors of Bhavnagar medical college suspended over alleged ragging