AMU JNMC resident doctors' suspension after mob assault sparks outrage

Aligarh: The suspension of three resident doctors from the orthopaedics department at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC), Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), despite two on-duty residents being allegedly assaulted by patient attendants inside the hospital premises, has been heavily criticised by the medical fraternity.

Medical Dialogues recently reported that the police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the doctors based on the complaints filed by the patient's attendants, and accordingly, the Proctor of AMU suspended the three doctors in connection.

On May 5, 2026, two doctors were allegedly brutally assaulted by a mob of patient attendants and sustained serious injuries, with the female doctor bleeding from the mouth, while the other doctor present at the scene suffered severe injuries, including a fracture.

Following this, the Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA), JNMC, held a peaceful sit-in protest, demanding immediate revocation of the suspension orders, withdrawal of the “false and frivolous” FIRs lodged against doctors, and registration of an FIR against the main accused involved in the assault on resident doctors.

Extending its support, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has strongly condemned the action taken against the resident doctors of JNMC, alleging that this represents not only a failure of law and order but also a systemic and egregious affront to the dignity inherent in medical practice.

Also read- Doctors assaulted, yet booked: AMU JNMC resident doctors protest over FIR, suspension notice

It further alleged that rather than taking any immediate, decisive action against the assailants, the administration opted to file FIRs and issue suspension notices to the very doctors who were attacked, as well as those who gathered to express their dissent. Such actions do not reflect an appropriate administrative response, but the association said that it rather, they represent a form of institutional intimidation.

In a letter to the Vice Chancellor of AMU on May 8, FAIMA said the incident reflected a serious failure in ensuring the safety of doctors on duty. 

It said, "FAIMA asserts with conviction that these doctors are victims, not perpetrators. Suspending a doctor for protesting against their own assault constitutes an act of moral cowardice, while filing FIRs against those seeking accountability is a misuse of legal processes that this federation shall not permit to remain unchallenged."

The association demanded the immediate revocation of all suspension notices issued to the resident doctors, all FIRs filed against the protesting doctors, the immediate registration of an FIR and the filing of a chargesheet against the assailants under Sections 325, 332, 323, 353, 506, and 34 of the IPC, the immediate removal of Assistant Proctor from his position, pending a comprehensive inquiry into his failure to uphold security responsibilities, adequate monetary compensation for the injured doctors, the strict implementation of a gate pass system that limits patient attendants to two per patient and a thorough security audit and the visible enhancement of security measures across the hospital campus.

FAIMA  further warned that if the demands are not fulfilled within 48 hours, it would have no alternative but to escalate this matter through all available channels.

Demanding the same, the Democratic Medical Association (DMA) said that the brutal assault on the doctors is not merely an attack on an individual but an attack on the entire medical fraternity and on the healthcare system itself. 

DMA urged the principal of JNMC to address the matter with fairness, sensitivity and urgency, ensuring justice for the aggrieved doctors and restoration of confidence among healthcare workers. 

In a social media post on X, Dr Dhruv Chauhan, National Spokesperson of the Indian Medical Association Junior Doctors' Network (IMA-JDN), said, "What’s happening in JNMC with their doctors? The mob beats two resident doctors of AMU brutally inside their own hospital till they bleed, not even sparing the lady doctor, and when they went to protest against this barbarism with them, the Proctor of AMU suspended the doctors who went to protect them with an FIR filed against them. Instead of acting against the culprit mob, the AMU administration threatened their own doctors. Not even a single senior doctor or superintendent of the hospital supported them, and the local news published the names of doctors publicly as if they were some criminals. Attacking a govt doctor on duty is a punishable offence under Section 3(2), Section 3(3) and is non-bailable, but did the AMU administration follow the law? No! Revoke the suspension and FIR and take action against the Mob!"

Similarly, the All FMGs Association (AFA) also posted about the matter on the social media platform X. The association said, "Violence against doctors is not just an attack on individuals, it is an attack on humanity itself. A female resident doctor at JNMC, AMU, someone who chose a life of service, someone who stood at the frontline to heal, was left bleeding, not by disease, but by the very people she was trying to save. Her crime? Doing her duty. Imagine the fear, the helplessness, the betrayal when the hands meant to treat are met with fists, when compassion is answered with cruelty. And what is even more heartbreaking is the silence and apathy that followed. Instead of protection, she faced indifference. We cannot normalize this. We cannot stay silent. Justice delayed is justice denied. Accountability must follow. Protection must be guaranteed. Because if those who heal are not safe, then who will be left to care for us?"

Also read- Violence at AMU JNMC: On-duty Orthopaedics resident doctors assaulted by mob, RDA demands strict action