AIIMS New Delhi removes HoD CTVS over sexual harassment allegations
Doctor Removed
New Delhi: Taking action against the Head of the Cardiac Surgery Department, who has been accused of sexual harassment and character assassination by a female nurse, the administration at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, has removed him from his post.
After removing the doctor, the institute has now handed over the charge of running the department to Dr V. Devagourou, a senior professor in the same department, with immediate effect.
The action from the AIIMS administration comes after the AIIMS Nurses' Union made a series of complaints to the institute's director in this regard. While the first complaint was made on September 30, the subsequent complaints were submitted on October 4 and 7.
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As per the latest media report by The New Indian Express, the matter became urgent after the Nurses' Union escalated the complaint to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on October 9, detailing the victim's ordeal and the inaction of the administration.
Now taking action against the accused, the administration has removed him from the post. In this regard, the institute's official order, copy of which is with Medical Dialogues team, mentioned, "In view of the complaint dated 30.09.2025 received from a female nursing officer of the Department of CTVS against Dr. ***, Professor and Head of CTVS, and the representations in that regard received from the AIIMS Nurses’ Union dated 30.09.2025, 04.10.2025, and 07.10.2025, the Director has assigned the charge of Head of the Department of CTVS to Dr. V. Devagourou, Professor of CTVS, with immediate effect, till further orders."
Commenting on the action taken by the institute, the senior doctors have opined that it was the first instance in the institute's recent history where a department head has been removed from the position over such allegations. However, the inquiry in this regard is still underway. Referring to this, an official added, "The matter will now be referred to the institute’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) for further investigation."
TNIE has reported that the complainant has alleged that the accused used sexually abusive and deeply derogatory language against her, aimed at tarnishing the complainant's character and dignity.
"These remarks were not only sexist, vulgar, and demeaning, but they also constitute serious character assassination," mentioned the complaint.
Meanwhile, the Nurses' union has claimed that the accused doctor frequently made "vulgar, unprofessional, and derogatory comments" during ICU rounds, in wards, and inside operating theatres.
