Around 10 more complaints filed by students alleging sexual harassment by suspended Nair Hospital Doctor

Mumbai: Controversy surrounding an associate professor from BYL Nair Hospital who was suspended on the accusation of sexually harassing an MBBS student continues to escalate as around 10 more such complaints have been filed by female students of the institute. 

According to the multiple complaints that were submitted recently, the suspended doctor allegedly sexually harassed them on multiple occasions and threatened them with academic repercussions if they filed formal complaints.

These complaints came to light during a hearing held at Prabhadevi on Thursday. The hearing was organized by the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), the Sexual Harassment Prevention Committee at the Workplace and the Savitribai Phule Women’s Resource Centre (SPGRC) following a directive from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) additional municipal commissioner. 

Also read- Maha State Commission for Women notice to Nair Hospital seeking explanation on action taken against accused Associate Prof

The hearing was held to gather testimonies from the victims, providing them with a platform to come forward with their official complaints after ICC had initially requested written complaints from students by September 25.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the said associate professor of BYL Nair Hospital was found guilty after a sexual harassment allegations complaint filed by an MBBS student who is also an athlete were proven true. The BMC-run Local Complaints Committee (LCC) - BMC's Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) committee which investigated the sexual harassment complaint issued a series of recommendations including the immediate transfer of the professor until the student finishes her studies.

The incident reportedly occurred when the student was summoned twice to the associate professor’s cabin under the pretext of discussing her sports activities. During these encounters, the professor allegedly touched her inappropriately, claiming it was part of a medical examination. He then asked her to take off her apron, placed a hand on her shoulder, and talked about the colour of her lips. The student also reported that he made inappropriate comments, which left her feeling uncomfortable.

Initially, she approached an doctor for help, but when no action was taken, she escalated the matter to the hospital’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC). Dissatisfied with their response, the student took her complaint to the LCC.

Following an investigation, the LCC found 'Truth' in the student’s allegations and issued a series of recommendations. In a confidential report submitted on September 5, the LCC advised the hospital to immediately transfer the associate professor to prevent any further interaction with the complainant. It also directed that the accused should not be allowed to serve as an examiner in any of her assessments.

Similarly, the fresh complaints filed by the female students pointed out similar allegations. Among them, three female students have detailed their negative experiences with the professor. 

As per HT news report, One student alleged that the doctor deliberately withheld checking one of her exam answers, forcing her to meet with him to get the issue resolved. “During these meetings, he assaulted me many times, she said. Another student shared a similar experience, stating that the professor would call her to his office under the guise of academic discussions and then assault her.

Moreover, three staff members also attended the hearing, one of whom revealed that she had received 37 memos within a year. She said that in her more than ten years of employment, she had never received as many memos as she did during the year she worked under the professor's supervision. “I refused to carry out certain tasks that were beyond my authority, but he still pressured me to do them,” she reportedly said during the hearing.

Furthermore, the Association of State Medical Interns (ASMI) has warned of a nationwide protest in Maharashtra if their demands are not met in this regard. In a statement issued by the association mentioned “Multiple complaints were submitted on Thursday, and several female students came forward to speak before the higher committee. We have provided evidence against the professor and the dean. We have made legitimate demands based on this evidence, and if these demands are not met, we will initiate a statewide agitation in Maharashtra.”

In a post on 'X', Member of Parliament and NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule claimed that Mumbai's civic-run Nair Hospital have turned a blind eye to the issue and the female medicos of the hospital who have raised complaints about sexual harassment are being silenced.

"Shocking! It has come to my notice that women doctors who have raised their complaints about sexual harassment at Nair Hospital are being silenced. Despite them requesting to be heard, government authorities are turning a blind eye to this entire issue safeguarding the assaulters. I had raised this isssue before. We demand urgent action now, as each day’s delay is gravely jeopardising the safety of our women. It’s appalling that despite numerous shocking incidents in the state, the government continues to remain not only mute but shielding by inaction," she posted. 

Also read- BMC's POSH committee finds Nair Hospital Associate Prof guilty of sexually harassing MBBS medico