According to the health department, the matter was immediately dealt with by Gandhinagar officials, the additional director and the anti-ragging committee.Gandhinagar/Bhavnagar, Gujarat’s health department has ordered strict disciplinary action against six students of Government Medical College, Bhavnagar, after they were found guilty in an investigation into a ragging complaint, with one student being suspended for two years and all six being ordered to vacate their hostel rooms immediately.
The action came after a marathon meeting of the college’s anti-ragging committee, which started at 5 pm on June 18 and continued till 2 am on Friday.
The meeting was called on the instructions of state Health Minister Prafulla Pansheriya after the alleged ragging incident came to light.
According to the health department, the matter was immediately dealt with by Gandhinagar officials, the additional director and the anti-ragging committee.
During the nine-hour meeting, written statements were received from first year, second year and third year students of the Department of Orthopedics as well as concerned faculty members and support staff.
The committee also conducted a detailed review of the available documentary evidence before reaching its conclusions.
Based on the findings of the investigation and following the instructions of the Health Minister, the Anti-Ragging Committee imposed disciplinary penalties on the students found responsible for the incident.
One student has been suspended from the college for two years and three students for one year. Two other students have been suspended for six months.
All six students have been ordered to leave the hostel with immediate effect and have been directed to vacate their rooms by evening and inform the college administration.
The health department said suspended students will not be allowed to participate in any academic, clinical, research or other college-related activities during the period of punishment.
Pansheriya said the state government will not tolerate ragging or any behavior that compromises the safety and dignity of students.
“There will be no compromise on the safety and dignity of students. The state government’s policy towards ragging is zero tolerance,” Pansheriya said.
He said that anti-social, inhuman and indisciplined activities like ragging will not be tolerated under any circumstances in any medical college of Gujarat.
He said that “under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the state government is committed to maintaining student safety, respect and a healthy educational environment and will continue to take strict action against such incidents.”
Pansheriya also praised the health department officials, additional director, college administration and anti-ragging committee members for completing the investigation within two days of the complaint and taking timely action against those found responsible.
“Officers worked in continuous coordination till late 2am to ensure fair investigation, evaluate evidence and take prompt action in the case,” he said.
Addressing students across the state, Pansheriya urged anyone facing ragging, mental harassment, coercion, intimidation or any other form of inhumane treatment to immediately report the matter to their college’s anti-ragging committee, college administration or other competent authorities.
He said, “No student should tolerate such pressure or inhumane acts. The Anti-Ragging Committee and the Health Department are fully committed to the safety and justice of every student and every complaint received will be acted upon promptly and strictly.”
