3 weeks ago
Gujarat medical student dies after alleged ragging; four doctors suspended
A young doctor named Dr Harsh Pandya was studying microbiology at a government medical college in Surat, Gujarat, India.
He was 30 years old and wanted to work at big hospitals like AIIMS or the World Health Organization one day.
Sadly, he was found dead in his hostel room on August 9.
His family believes older students were teasing and harassing him, which is called ragging.
Harsh's father says Harsh told him he would handle the problem himself.
Many other students also said they were ragged by seniors.
Four doctors at the college were suspended because of what happened.
His family is very sad and wants the people responsible to be punished.
They are asking the government to make rules stricter so no other family has to suffer like this.
Dr Harsh Pandya, a 30-year-old first-year PG Microbiology student at Government Medical College, Surat, was found dead in his hostel room on the morning of August 9.
His father, retired doctor Subhash Pandya, said Harsh told him about five days before his death that he would 'handle it' when asked about trouble from seniors.
At least 10 students had complained of ragging by seniors, and the family alleges college authorities ignored statements that ragging had been going on for the last 4-5 months.
Four doctors — Dr Nirali Vasave, Dr Anuj Maheshwari, Dr Dixit Ghewaria, and Dr Hina Bhut — were suspended for six months, while ABVP and the family demand they be sacked and the law be made stricter.
Harsh, who completed his MBBS in the Philippines in 2022, earned a stipend of Rs 1 lakh and was engaged to be married later this year; the village panchayat has written to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Health Minister Praful Pansheriya demanding justice.
- Who
- Dr Harsh Pandya, a 30-year-old first-year PG Microbiology student at Government Medical College, Surat; his family, college authorities, and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP)
- What
- Harsh Pandya allegedly died by suicide in his hostel room after facing ragging by seniors, reigniting the debate over ragging in medical institutions
- Where
- Government Medical College, Surat, Gujarat, India
- When
- Found dead on the morning of August 9; ragging allegedly ongoing for the last 4-5 months
- Why
- His family alleges he was subjected to sustained ragging and that college authorities did not pay attention to complaints from students
Demand for harsher punishment
Institutional disciplinary action
Punishment for accused doctors
Demand for harsher punishment
The family, ABVP, and the village panchayat demand the four suspended doctors be sacked and the law be made stricter so the guilty face severe punishment.
Institutional disciplinary action
The college discharged its disciplinary process by suspending the four doctors for six months, with the investigation continuing under the authorities.
Key facts
- Victim
- Dr Harsh Pandya, 30, first-year PG Microbiology student
- Location
- Government Medical College, Surat, Gujarat
- Date of death
- Found dead in hostel room on August 9
- Stipend
- Rs 1 lakh per month
- Ragging complaints
- At least 10 students complained; 7 of 10 batchmates said ragging went on for 4-5 months
- Disciplinary action
- Four doctors suspended for six months
- Family demands
- Sacking of accused doctors and stricter anti-ragging law
- Planned wedding
- Engaged to a woman from Anand, marriage planned later this year
Quotes
Subhash Pandya
Retired superintendent of Community Health Centre, father of the deceased
““Such incidents should not happen. Those guilty should be punished to such an extent that they would not even dream of torturing anyone in the way they did my son.””
indianexpress.com
““Humne apna bachha khoya hai, koi apna lal na khoye is tarah. Sabse badkhar jaan hoti hai.””
indianexpress.com
Sources
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