Gujarat suspends Surat medical college Microbiology department head over suicide of PG student after ‘ragging’

The Gujarat health department has suspended Dr. Sumaiya Mulla, head of the Microbiology Department at Government Medical College in Surat, for 90 days. This disciplinary action stems from her perceived inability to prevent a series of incidents known as "ragging" that allegedly led to the suicide of first-year postgraduate medical student, Dr. Harsh Pandya, on August 9.

Dr. Mulla is required to serve her suspension at the government's Medical College in Vadodara. The Health and Family Welfare department deemed her actions as a serious breach of duty, involving a lack of integrity and unbecoming behavior for a government servant, in accordance with the Gujarat Civil Service (Conduct) Rules 1971.

Additionally, the department issued a show-cause notice to Surat Government Medical College Dean, Dr. Jayesh Brahmabhatt. Dr. Pandya, a Dalit student, had approached Dr. Mulla and another faculty member, Dr. Sangita Rajdev, two days prior to the incident to lodge complaints about the alleged ragging by seniors. Despite these complaints, no action was taken.

The incident has sparked outrage, with sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act added to the FIR registered at Khatodara police station after Dr. Pandya's father lodged a complaint. Health Minister Praful Patel emphasized that the government has a zero-tolerance policy towards ragging in any educational or medical institutions in Gujarat.

During the suspension period, Dr. Mulla will not be able to engage in any private job or business, and her subsistence allowance will be stopped if she violates the conditions of her suspension.