GMC Surat medico suicide case: Microbiology dept head suspended, Dean gets showcause notice
Surat: The Head of the Microbiology Department of Government Medical College (GMC), Surat, has been suspended for 90 days for allegedly failing to prevent the ragging of a first year medico, who later died by suicide on August 9.
In a suspension order issued by the Health and Family Welfare department on August 19, the doctor has been held accountable for the 'irresponsible and negligent act' which reportedly showed her failure to perform her duties as the department head and disciplinary responsibilities under the Gujarat Civil Service (Conduct).
"Dr *** could not prevent the ragging incident in the Microbiology department that took the life of an innocent Resident doctor ***. She is accountable for this very serious, irresponsible, and negligent act, showing a lack of sincerity”. *** has been accused of violating the Gujarat Civil Service (Conduct) Rules 1971 section 3(1) mandating government servants to “maintain absolute integrity, devotion to duty and do nothing that is unbecoming of a government servant," the order stated.
Apart from suspending the professor, the health department also issued a show-cause notice to GMC Surat Dean in connection with the incident.
Also read- GMC Surat MD Microbiology medico allegedly commits suicide, 4 doctors suspended for ragging
Medical Dialogues had reported that a first-year postgraduate medical student in the Department of Microbiology at GMC Surat committed suicide by hanging from the ceiling of his PG hostel room. The medico tool the extreme step after reportedly facing mental harassment and ragging by four senior doctors.
Following the incident, Gujarat Health Minister Praful Panseriya ordered an internal inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his death. The committee found evidence that the doctor was mentally harassed and ragged by four senior resident doctors. Based on the findings, the four senior doctors were suspended for six months from the hospital, the hostel, and all teaching and academic activities.
After the suspension of four senior doctors, the college administration issued show-cause notices to four faculty members for alleged inaction including the Microbiology MoD who is now under suspension.
As per a government release by Health Minister Praful Pansheriya, the professor’s headquarters during the suspension period will be GMC Vadodara. She has been directed not to leave her headquarters without prior permission from the competent authority.
Regarding employment, she will not be permitted to undertake private employment or engage in any business or trade during the suspension period. If she violates these conditions, she could face disciplinary action and withholding of her subsistence allowance.
“During the period of suspension, the professor's headquarters will be Government Medical College, Vadodara. She will not be able to leave the headquarters in Vadodara without the written permission of the competent officer. She will not be able to engage in any private job or business during the suspension period. If these conditions are violated, the subsistence allowance payable to her will be stopped and additional strict disciplinary action will be taken,” the release said.
The decision to suspend the HoD was taken by Health Minister Pansheriya. He directed strict disciplinary action against those found responsible for negligence in preventing the ragging incident.
"Ragging or mental harassment of students would not be tolerated in any educational or medical institutions in Gujarat. The state government has a ‘zero tolerance’ policy against ragging and will ensure that such incidents do not happen in future," Pansheriya said in a statement.
FIR against 4 doctors
Indian Express has reported that the four suspended senior resident doctors at Government Medical College (GMC), Surat, were booked on charges of wrongful confinement and causing mental harassment in an FIR registered at Khatodara police station. The FIR was based on a complaint filed by GMC Dean Dr Jayesh Brahmbhatt, citing the findings of the anti-ragging committee.
The accused doctors were booked under Section 127(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for wrongful confinement, Section 352 for intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of public peace, and Section 54 concerning abetment of an offence, along with relevant provisions of the Atrocities Act.
It has been reported that two of the doctors are absconding, and the other two appeared before the police on August 14. They were sent home after police recorded their statements.
Khatodara police inspector N V Bharvad told the Daily, "Two senior resident doctors are absconding. We have sent our teams to locate them, but they were not found."
