Latest news with #MaharashtraProhibitionofRaggingAct
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
HC questions state over removal of prosecutor in Payal Tadvi case, seeks affidavit
MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Thursday pulled up the Maharashtra government for abruptly removing special public prosecutor (SPP) Pradip Gharat from the case involving the abetment of suicide of Dr Payal Tadvi, without citing any reasons in its official order. The court directed the state to file an affidavit clarifying its stand. HC questions state over removal of prosecutor in Payal Tadvi case, seeks affidavit A division bench of Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice MM Sathaye was hearing a petition filed by Abeda Tadvi, mother of the deceased doctor, challenging the state's March 7 notification removing Gharat from the high-profile case. Dr Payal Tadvi, a 26-year-old postgraduate medical student who belonged to the oppressed Tadvi Bhil caste--an Adivasi Muslim community, died by suicide on May 22, 2019, allegedly due to caste-based harassment by three senior colleagues — Dr Hema Ahuja, Dr Bhakti Meher and Dr Ankita Khandelwal — at the Topiwala National Medical College and BYL Nair Hospital. The three were arrested under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Maharashtra Prohibition of Ragging Act, but are currently out on bail. The trial has not yet commenced. In November 2024, while serving as SPP, Gharat moved an application seeking to implead Dr Yi Ching Ling Chung Chiang — then head of the obstetrics and gynaecology department — as a co-accused, for allegedly failing to act on repeated complaints of harassment made by Payal and her family. The application, based on the report of the college's anti-ragging committee and an early complaint by the family, was allowed by a special court on February 28, 2025. Just a week later, the state removed Gharat from the case, replacing him with advocate Mahesh Manohar Mule — a decision that was neither explained in the notification nor communicated with the victim's family, prompting Payal's mother to move the High Court. During Thursday's hearing, the bench questioned the rationale behind the government's move. 'The complainant has confidence in this special public prosecutor. Why disturb the situation?' the court asked. Responding on behalf of the state, additional public prosecutor Shreekant Gavand said Gharat had allegedly been acting independently without consulting the investigating officer or keeping them informed of court proceedings. 'He took the decision of impleading the new accused on his own,' Gavand said. He cited Rule 4(3) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995, which permits the state to denotify a special public prosecutor if he fails to conduct the case with due care — provided reasons are recorded in the denotification order. But the bench noted that no such reasons were mentioned in the official order removing Gharat. 'You have simpliciter withdrawn him. The law requires you to supply reasons. Now, reasons cannot be assigned after the decision is taken,' the court observed. The state has now been asked to file an affidavit responding to the petition, explaining its decision to replace Gharat.
Hindustan Times
30-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
No relief for 3 Pune's BJMC PG students accused of ragging 4 junior resident doctors
In a firm stance against ragging in medical institutions, the Maharashtra Medical Education Department has upheld the six-month suspension of three second-year postgraduate (PG) students from B J Medical College (BJMC), Pune. The trio have been accused of ragging four junior resident doctors, prompting immediate disciplinary action by the college authorities, said officials. According to officials, BJMC on Tuesday formally issued suspension orders to the trio, reconfirming the action. The BJMC anti-ragging committee last month conducted a detailed inquiry into the alleged ragging. The three postgraduate doctors with the orthopaedic department were suspended and the proposal for the same was subsequently sent to the state medical education department for final approval. Dr Eknath Pawar, dean of BJMC and Sassoon General Hospital (SGH), said that the medical education department has upheld their decision to suspend the three PG students. 'A letter regarding the same was received on Monday. Following this, a subsequent suspension order has been issued by us,' he said. According to officials, a complaint was received by the college on April 28, 2025 regarding four junior doctors being allegedly ragged by the three second-year PG students of the orthopaedic department. The parent of one of the junior doctors who was ragged also filed a complaint with the National Medical Council (NMC), accusing the senior doctors of mental harassment and verbal and physical abuse. According to the parents of the victims, the latter had also filed complaints alleging verbal abuse and physical assault. They even submitted audio recordings as evidence but this was not mentioned in the report and as a result, no FIR has been registered against the accused (they have only been suspended for six months). In reality, an FIR should have been filed against them, they said. Furthermore, the parent also claimed that to protect the image of the college, the report does not mention any verbal abuse and assault by the accused doctors. No action has been taken under the Maharashtra Prohibition of Ragging Act. There have also been repeated complaints from poor patients alleging that the same doctors abused and assaulted them in the absence of their relatives. Dr Pawar said that the three students have been suspended and will continue to remain suspended for the entire six months. During this period of suspension, they have been prohibited from participating in medical conferences. They cannot represent BJMC at any medical conference. All three have to pay a fine of ₹1 lakh and have been expelled from the hostel for the period of suspension. Besides, they have been prohibited from entering the hostel and college premises during the suspension period, he said.
