KGMU panel for sacking of doctor booked for sexually harassing colleague | Lucknow News
Lucknow: King George Medical University’s (KGMU) internal complaints committee (ICC) recommended the sacking of resident doctor Dr Rameezuddin, who was accused of sexually harassing a colleague and allegedly pressuring her to undergo religious conversion before the two could get married. The ICC recorded the statements of the complainant, the accused, their parents, and other faculty members, and submitted its findings and recommendations to the university administration.
Based on the inquiry, the committee recommended Dr Rameezuddin’s termination from the residency programme. KGMU officials said the recommendation was forwarded to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Soniya Nityanand, who is the competent authority to take the final decision. If the VC agrees with the internal committee’s findings, the matter may be formally referred to the Directorate General of Medical Education (DGME) for termination of the resident doctor from the course, as per prevailing rules. Meanwhile, Dr Rameezuddin is absconding. His parents were arrested for allegedly helping him evade arrest in connection with the case. Earlier, Dr Rameezuddin was accused by a woman doctor from the same department of sexual harassment and pressuring her to change her religion for marriage. The complaint was submitted to KGMU on December 21, after the victim attempted suicide on December 17, an incident that brought the matter to light.Thereafter, the matter was referred to the ICC, headed by Prof Monica Kohli, and comprising Prof Sujata Dev, two other women faculty members, external member Usha Awasthi, along with the proctor and the legal cell in-charge. The committee was constituted under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act. The accused and the complainant appeared before the committee on December 22. The accused denied all allegations, including claims related to a second marriage. The statements were recorded. However, after December 23, he went absconding. His residence was found locked, his mobile phones were switched off, and repeated attempts to contact him failed. The ICC informed the police and conveyed that it would seek further questioning if the accused was traced, but this could not be done. “After repeated attempts to contact Dr Rameezuddin, on Wednesday, the ICC held its final meeting, reviewed the evidence, and submitted its report to the Vice Chancellor,” said Prof KK Singh, spokesperson, KGMU. He said that Rameezuddin, admitted to the course through NEET-PG, completed over one-and-a-half years of training. Along with termination from the residency programme, the university may also recommend cancelling his admission. As admissions and stipends are routed through the DGME, KGMU may approach the DGME for admission cancellation and inform the NEET-conducting authority and the National Medical Commission (NMC). While the ICC inquiry was confined to sexual harassment allegations, a separate seven-member committee, including former DGP Bhavesh Singh, is probing alleged forced religious conversion and suspected radical activities. The panel recorded statements of resident doctors and interacted with social organisations.
