3 GMCH MBBS students suspended for 6 months, other 3 debarred from hostel, each fined Rs 25k for ragging junior

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Taking strict action against medicos who allegedly ragged a second-year student, 3 third-year MBBS students of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) have been suspended for six months and the other three involved, have been debarred from the hostel and library for six months. Moreover, a fine of Rs 25,000 has been imposed on each of them.

As per a TOI news report, the three suspended students have also been permanently debarred from the hostel and library. Now, all six students are facing action from the authorities after they were found to be indulging in ragging a second-year student during the committee enquiry into the incident.

According to the anti-ragging committee, the accused student confessed to their action of allegedly harassing the second-year student by asking him to bring cigarettes and liquor.

Also read- 4 Tanda Medical College MBBS Students Expelled, Fined For Ragging Juniors

The incident came to light when the second-year student informed his parents about the alleged ragging following which an online complaint was filed in the National Medical Commission’s portal.

After taking note of the issue, GMCH superintendent Dr Suresh Harbade who heads the local anti-ragging committee also filed a complaint and an investigation was conducted accordingly. During the investigation, the accused medicos reportedly confessed within 12 hours and their parents were first called before any action was initiated against them.

GMCH dean Dr Shivaji Sukre told TOI, “There was a complaint that these six students allegedly harassed a second-year student by asking him to bring cigarettes and liquor. Perturbed by the same, the victim informed about it to his parents, who lodged an online complaint on June 7 with the National Medical Commission’s portal. Simultaneously, he also lodged a complaint with the GMCH superintendent Dr Suresh Harbade, who heads the local anti-ragging committee.”

"The victim has been counselled by senior members of the administration and an alternate arrangement for his accommodation has been made," he added.

Medical Dialogues team earlier reported that a representative of the University Grants Commission (UGC) informed in the NMC National Task Force's meeting on mental health and well-being of the medical students that 30 percent of the ragging incidents in India are reported from medical colleges.

Speaking about the issue of ragging, UGC Representative Alka Tomar termed UGC as the monitoring agency for anti-ragging issues in the country. She referred to the UGC regulations which were framed in 2009 to curb the menace of ragging. Describing this process, she referred to three aspects, receiving complaints, asking students to submit affidavits with an undertaking not to take part in ragging activities, and compliance with the rules.

Also read- 30 Percent Of Ragging Incidents In India Reported In Medical Colleges: UGC Data