MBBS student accuses Prof of sexual misconduct: MSCW issues notice to Nair Hospital
The MSCW's notice follows a letter from Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh on September 14, in which he accused Nair Hospital Dean Dr Sudhir Medhekar of displaying leniency towards the accused.
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In response to Shaikh’s letter, the MSCW wrote to the BMC on Monday seeking an explanation. (File Photo)The Maharashtra State Commission for Women (MSCW) on Monday sent a notice seeking information from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) regarding action taken following a complaint by an MBBS student at BYL Nair Hospital, who alleged that an associate professor sexually harassed her. The accused doctor was suspended by the BMC last week following an outcry over the “leniency shown to the accused who was initially shifted from his teaching position to an administrative role” following the complaint.
The MSCW’s notice follows a letter from Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh on September 14, in which he accused Nair Hospital Dean Dr Sudhir Medhekar of displaying leniency towards the accused. Shaikh has called for the suspension of the Dean and a thorough investigation into the incident.
In response to Shaikh’s letter, the MSCW wrote to the BMC on Monday seeking an explanation.
Dr Medhekar declined to comment on the matter.
The case first emerged in March when the MBBS student at Nair Hospital filed a complaint against a senior faculty member from the pharmacology department, alleging inappropriate conduct during what was meant to be a medical examination. The hospital’s Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) committee investigated the matter and concluded that the student’s complaint was credible. They recommended that the teacher be transferred until the student completes her studies and criticised the hospital administration for its “insensitive” handling of the case.
In addition to transferring the accused teacher, the committee also took action against another medical faculty member who had testified in favour of the accused. This teacher received a reprimand and was ordered to undergo counselling.
The hospital administration faced backlash for the leniency shown towards the accused, who had been reassigned from academic duties to administrative roles. Following student protests, the BMC announced the suspension of the associate professor last week.
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