AIIMS Faculty protest demanding reinstatement of removed HoD CTVS

"Faculties have unanimously decided not to move out of the Dr Ramalingaswami Board Room until the issue is resolved. Our single demand: immediate reinstatement of HOD, CTVS. We have received unconditional support from the Officers’ Association, Karamchari Union, and the Unity of Allied Healthcare Professionals," read a statement issued by the the Faculty Association of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (FAIMS).

Speaking to Medical Dialogues, the General Secretary of FAIMS, Dr. Amarinder Singh Malhi, said that the association wants the reinstatement of the CTVS Head of the Department. He also added that a proper process should be followed and the doctor should be given a mode to defend himself. 

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the AIIMS administration removed the concerned doctor from the post of Head of the Cardiac Surgery Department, after the Nurses' Union made a series of complaints to the institute's director and the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in this regard. The concerned doctor was accused of sexual harassment and character assassination by a female nurse.

Also Read: AIIMS New Delhi removes HoD CTVS over sexual harassment allegations

After removing the doctor, the institute has now handed over the charge of running the department to Dr V. Devagourou, a senior professor in the same department, with immediate effect. 

The Union made the first complaint on September 30, and the subsequent complaints were submitted on October 4 and 7. Consequently, it escalated the matter to the PMO on October 9, detailing the victim's ordeal and the inaction of the administration.

Allegedly, the complainant claimed that the accused used sexually abusive and deeply derogatory language against her, aimed at tarnishing the complainant's character and dignity. "These remarks were not only sexist, vulgar, and demeaning, but they also constitute serious character assassination," mentioned the complaint.

After the administration removed the concerned doctor, the faculty association of the institute has started protesting against the decision. FAIMS called the removal of the doctor as the head of CTVS as "unwarranted" and further said that the grievance was already forwarded to the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC). The association also added that the complainant was not under a direct administration control of the doctor who had already proceeded on leave from October 11.

TOI has reported that the faculty association has claimed that the doctor was not given a chance to defend himself before the removal. The association opined it to be a violation of natural justice. Further, FAIMS questioned why the nurse's complaint, which was already forwarded to the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), was shared with the Nurses' Union, mentioning that this went "beyond the mandate" of due process.

FAIMS on Wednesday had warned of a mass protest if the doctor was not reinstated within 24 hours. The association said that the ICC should investigate the complainant's grievances strictly on merit, free from external or union influence and also sought disciplinary action against the nurses' union, suspension of the current office bearers, and a ban on their participation in future elections for the remainder of their service.

Meanwhile, the Nurses Union at the institute has condemned the demand made by FAIMS to transfer the complainant to her original posting. As per the latest media report by the Indian Express, the Union said that FAIMS publicly disclosed the details of a sexual harassment complaint, pending before the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), and also revealed the identity of the complainant.

Writing to the Director, Dr. M Srinivas, on Thursday, the nursing union said that this was not a matter of "nurses versus doctors", but it was a matter of justice, gender dignity, and institutional ethics. 

The complainant has now submitted a plea before the National Commission for Women and the National Commission of Scheduled Tribes as well. Amid this, the Nurses Union said that pressuring the administration to revoke the suspension from the post of HoD is against the POSH Act and it may directly affect a fair and impartial inquiry into the matter.

"Such actions violate Section 16 of the POSH Act, which explicitly prohibits the public disclosure of details or proceedings relating to a sexual harassment complaint," the Union mentioned in the letter addressed to the AIIMS Director.

Also Read: Implementation of technical resignation to allow transfer of employees will dent AIIMS reputation, FAIMS opposes Health Ministry proposal