Dr Payal Tadvi suicide case: HC seeks Medical council's response

Mumbai: While the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC) has given a clean chit to 2 of the accused doctors in Dr Payal Tadvi suicide case, the Bombay High Court has now sought the Maharashtra Medical Council's (MMC) response on the applications filed by the accused seeking relaxation in suspending their medical licences.

Medical Dialogues had extensively reported about the unfortunate case, wherein, the 26-year-old PG medico Dr Payal Tadvi pursuing MD Gynecology from a well known BYL Nair Hospital in Mumbai had allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself in her hostel room. The doctor was allegedly under depression as three of her senior colleagues allegedly used to harass her with casteist remarks.

Read Also: Mumbai: MD Gynecology commits Suicide over alleged Harassment, 3 Seniors booked for Abetment

A complaint was moved by the medico's family and a case against the trio was registered under section 306 (abetment for suicide) of the Indian penal code (IPC), sections of the SC/ST Atrocities Act, Anti-Ragging Act and Information Technology Act, 2000.

Later, the Bombay High Court had granted bail to three doctors and directed the trio to submit a surety of Rs 2 Lakh and appear before the crime branch every alternate day. The court had further directed them not to travel outside Mumbai without permission or go inside the BYL Nair Hospital, where Dr Tadvi had committed suicide. The high court ordered that the licences of the accused would remain suspended until the trial concludes.

Read Also: Dr Payal Tadvi Suicide Case: Bombay High Court grants BAIL to Accused doctors

In November last year, the accused had approached the HC seeking relaxation in some of the conditions imposed and requested to be allowed to pursue further studies.

Further in December, the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC) exonerated the two former department heads at the BYL Nair Hospital for the want of "linking evidence". The commission mentioned that Dr Payal's family could not produce any documentary proof of written complaints to the two faculty heads against the ragging that she was facing.

Read Also: Dr Payal Tadvi Suicide Case: 2 Accused Doctors Exonerated By Maharashtra Human Rights Panel

Meanwhile, during the recent hearing, the counsel appearing for the accused doctors submitted before the court that these doctors were already facing an inquiry and had received notices from the medical council wherein an inquiry is underway to determine whether their licences should be cancelled. He added that the accused had received the notices from the council a day before their arrest in May and since they were in custody they could not respond to it till they were granted bail.

Noting the submissions, HC Justice Sadhana Jadhav said that she had issued a judicial order to suspend the licences of the accused as the MMC had not taken any action. The court said that the council must be directed to come prepared for the next hearing on the application. It also said that it will consider relaxing conditions, including reporting before the police every alternate day, the council's response is to be sought on the issue of their licences, reports the Indian Express.