'Duffer, Donkey, Murga Bano!'- Doctors allegedly humiliated by DM, give mass resignation in protest

Bengaluru: Government doctors in Etah recently gave mass resignation after allegedly being humiliated by the District Magistrate (DM) of Etah during the recent meeting of the District Health Committee.

It has been alleged the DM insulted the doctors by using words such as duffer, donkey etc., and asked the doctors to perform a humiliating act (to become a rooster). 

Writing to the Chief Minister, altogether 15 doctors including the Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Gaurav Yadav informed their decision of giving mass resignation.

The incident took place during the meeting of the District Health Committee, which was held by the District Magistrate Etah on 27.02.2025. During the review, the District Magistrate allegedly used indecent language and misbehaved with the doctors.

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Writing to the Chief Minister in this regard, all Medical Officers of Etah district mentioned that in the said meeting, the doctors were 'insulted by using words like duffer, donkey, and nonsense.' They further alleged that during the meeting, the doctors posted at Urban Ayushman Arogya Mandir Etah were allegedly instructed to become roosters.

The doctors alleged in the letter that when the inhuman instructions were not complied with by the doctors, then on the instructions of the District Magistrate, the stenographer and police force allegedly used force to get them out of the meeting room and made them stand outside police surveillance, while the police standing outside allegedly laughed and insulted the doctors on seeking their plight.

As per the doctors, they made it "seem as if we were not employees of the Uttar Pradesh government but cognizable criminals."

Following this, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Gaurav Yadav was allegedly made to stand in the meeting and it was said that the doctors had come to the meeting after consuming alcohol or 'bhang'. It was further alleged that the District Magistrate did not stop even at this point and said that 'he had the power to stop the salary and if he had the right to hand people, he would have hanged all of those doctors.' The doctors mentioned in the letter that' their only fault was that the district's ranking was 7th in VHND (Village Health and Nutrition Days).'

Earlier as well, the Medical Superintendent of Aliganj was allegedly insulted and thrown out by the District Magistrate during a meeting in the hospital camp office. In the same meeting, the Chief Medical Officer Etah was asked through telephone to remove the Medical Superintendent from the post, alleged the doctors. They claimed that the MS was not allowed to present his side.

Therefore, alleging that the District Magistrate was misusing his position, the doctors claimed that they were all unable to work with full dedication due to mental harassment. 

The doctors questioned if it was justified to use such language by the representative of any monitoring agency. They further mentioned that having no choice, they were forced to resign from their posts to protect their self-respect. They further added that Dr. Gaurav Yadav will send his resignation to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO).

Speaking to the media, the Deputy CMO Etah Dr. Yadav said, "We want the Honourable Chief Minister to take note of this incident. We cannot work in such a fearful environment. We cannot work with the DM."

Reacting to the incident, the UP Chapter of the Indian Medical Association Junior Doctors' Network demanded immediate action. In an X (formerly Twitter) post, they added, "Dear@DM_Etah, MBBS takes 5.5 years, PG takes 3+ years - 10 valuable years to serve society, not to be called "duffers"! Insulting doctors, calling them "murga bano," and throwing them out of meetings like criminals is outrageous! Is this how frontline warriors are treated? @narendramodi @JPNadda @myogiadityanath @brajeshpathakup @PMOIndia @HMOIndia, We demand immediate action!"