Nine medical students suspended over ragging abuse

Positive multiracial group of students with backpacks looking at each other and giving high five while strolling through doorway of university building in corridor. Photo: William Fortunato/Pexels

The college administration at Dr. Radhakrishnan Government Medical College in Hamirpur has taken disciplinary action against nine second-year MBBS students following an investigation into a ragging incident. They imposed suspensions for two weeks and fines ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 per student after receiving a complaint from a first-year student. The complaint alleged that senior peers subjected the juniors to repeated harassment and mental distress.

The Anti-Ragging Committee determined that the juniors endured degrading treatment, including being ordered to lower their eyes and address a senior student as Doctor Sahib whenever they encountered him. The committee also documented that the students were required to follow a rigid format when introducing themselves.

Among the nine students, three, including one who resided in the postgraduate room where the incident unfolded, received the maximum penalty of Rs 50,000. The remaining six, who were present during the incident, were each fined Rs 25,000. The college’s inquiry involved statements from eight junior students, all of whom corroborated the mistreatment. However, the accused students denied the allegations.

The complaint did not reference physical assault, yet the college ruled that the imposed rules and verbal humiliation constituted ragging under its regulations. The disciplinary measures were designed to prevent future occurrences, according to the administration. Principal Dr. Ramesh Bharti emphasized that the college would not tolerate such behavior and had strengthened anti-ragging measures across campus.

Dr. Ramesh Bharti stated that all students have been made aware of anti-ragging rules. The college’s actions follow a complaint filed by a first-year student, who alleged that more than half a dozen second-year MBBS students had been mistreating him for some time. The student claimed that he and other first-year MBBS students were called to a senior’s postgraduate (PG) room near Bhota Chowk and subjected to these instructions.