GMCH Sexual Harassment Case: Assam Govt calls for immediate suspension
Gauhati Medical College and Hospital
Guwahati: Following a sexual harassment and abuse of authority complaint at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) that reached the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the Assam government has called for urgent action, including immediate suspension of the accused.
According to an official communication from the state’s Women and Child Development Department, the complaint has been forwarded to the Medical Education and Research Department for necessary action under the provisions of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act.
Also Read:GMCH Associate Professor alleges workplace harassment, seeks inquiry
The communication, dated March 23, 2026, was issued from Janata Bhawan in Dispur by a Deputy Secretary and references a public grievance lodged through the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS), which was addressed to the PMO. The grievance has been attributed to an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology at GMCH, reports Assam Tribune.
The subject line of the correspondence explicitly calls for the “immediate suspension” of the accused, highlighting the seriousness of the allegations.
Officials said the matter has been directed to the concerned department with instructions to examine the complaint and take appropriate steps. The escalation of the issue to the PMO suggests that it has moved beyond the institutional level.
The official document describes the grievance as “self-explanatory,” suggesting that detailed allegations have already been submitted as part of the formal complaint process.
The complainant had previously filed a report at Panbazar Women Police Station in February, alleging that the GMCH principal repeatedly insisted on private meetings and made remarks causing discomfort. She also claimed administrative obstruction, including delays in formalizing her appointment as Head of Department and resistance to her academic proposals.
Following the allegations, the Assam government constituted a two-member committee, headed by women officials, to probe the matter, while police have initiated a preliminary investigation. The principal, in response to the initial complaint, stated on February 17 that he had been instructed not to speak to the press and had prepared all documentation required for the inquiry.
Medical Dialogues had previously reported that in a shocking incident, an associate professor at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) had written to Assam Chief Minister, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, alleging workplace harassment and administrative obstruction, and requesting a fair inquiry into the matter.
Under the POSH Act, institutions are mandated to provide a safe working environment and establish mechanisms to address complaints of sexual harassment. The case will now be examined by the Medical Education and Research Department for further action, reports Assam Tribune.
