At Jammu hospital, row over burqa ‘restrictions’, and an inquiry

A dispute erupted at the Government Medical College and Hospital in Doda, Jammu, over alleged restrictions on nursing interns wearing burqas inside the gynecology department's labor room. The incident prompted the hospital administration to form a seven-member inquiry panel.

On Wednesday, nursing interns staged a protest inside the hospital, accusing Dr. Madhu Chib, the head of the gynecology department, of objecting to their burqa-wearing. One protester alleged that Dr. Chib had previously removed a student from the labor room due to her veil. Another intern recounted witnessing two students being barred from the labor room, claiming it as interference in their religious practices.

Dr. Chib, however, denied the allegations and clarified that her issue was with hygiene compliance in sensitive areas such as labor rooms and operating theaters. She further explained that her directive to the interns was to ensure a proper gown over their loose garments, as per hospital protocol.

Hospital management confirmed the development, attributing the protest to a "miscommunication". Dr. Irfan Tassaduq, the in-charge medical superintendent of Doda GMC Hospital, stated that the doctor had asked the interns to adhere to the hygiene protocol within the labor room and operating theater environment.

The controversy has drawn attention from political leaders. Doda MLA Mehraj Malik discussed the matter with Health Minister Sakina Itoo, while Tanvir Sadiq, the National Conference chief spokesperson, expressed concern over the incident. He emphasized that the Constitution of India guarantees citizens the right to freely practice their religion, including the choice to wear a hijab or not.

This is not the first time Dr. Chib has been embroiled in a public controversy. In May of the previous year, she filed a police complaint against National Conference MLA Aam Aadmi Party Malik, alleging that he had made abusive and gendered remarks against her on social media. Malik, who has criticized hospital functioning in Doda and raised the issue in the J&K Assembly, denied the allegations and accused the doctor of engaging in private practice during official duty hours at a local nursing home.