PG Students Accused of Sexually Harassing Female Medicos: HC Seeks response from State, Osmania Medical College

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court bench of Justice B Vijaysen Reddy recently sought the response of Osmania Medical College and the State Health Department in a plea filed by doctors and staff of the institute, who were accused of sexually harassing female medical students. 

Filing the plea, the petitioners challenged the decision of the medical college authorities to set up an internal inquiry committee (ICC) along with the inquiry reports of the panel.

While considering the matter, the HC bench on Thursday expressed disapproval of the contradictory reports prepared by the ICC. Issuing an interim suspension of the inquiry reports, the Court directed the members of the Inquiry Committee and the Osmania Medical College to present their arguments by July 30, when the matter would be heard next.

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As per the latest media report by The New Indian Express, the plea was filed by four male and female students of a super-specialisation course, a nurse, and a former professor and Head of the Department of CT Surgery at the medical college. A female student had accused them of sexually harassing her.

The petitioners argued that the ICC failed to provide them with a copy of the complaint and did not disclose the evidence used in the investigation. According to the petitioners, this violated the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013.

Apart from claiming that the rules were not followed, the petitioners also sought the statements of the witnesses and the audio-record evidence produced by the victims, TOI has reported.

The counsel for the petitioners, Senior Advocate Vikram Poseria informed the Court that ICC had submitted two contradictory reports, undermining the legal procedure.

Taking note of these arguments, the HC bench directed the petitioners to make the complainant a party to the case and listed the matter for further hearing on July 30, 2024. Further, the judge has also issued notices to the State Health and medical college authorities seeking answers from them within three weeks. Meanwhile, the HC bench of Justice Reddy has issued an interim suspension of the inquiry reports, which the petitioners questioned. 

Also Read: HC Denies Relief to Doctor Accused of Sexual Harassment, says Patient's Vulnerability Should Not Be Used as a Weapon