Fresh complaint puts Gujarat's Surat Civil Hospital under anti-ragging scrutiny

AHMEDABAD: A fresh complaint alleging ragging and harassment in the Surgery Department of Gujarat’s Surat Civil Hospital has prompted an urgent anti-ragging probe, days after the alleged suicide of resident doctor Harsh Pandya put the hospital administration on high alert.

While the Anti-Ragging Committee has so far found no direct evidence of ragging in the latest complaint, allegations of excessive workload, leave-related issues, academic difficulties and harassment by seniors have raised fresh concerns over the working environment for resident doctors.

The complaint was received on the evening of August 27, when the Dean’s office at Surat Civil Hospital received an anonymous petition in a sealed cover alleging ragging and harassment in the Surgery Department. Given the seriousness of the allegations and the recent death of Pandya, the hospital administration immediately launched an inquiry.

First, senior officers of the Surgery Department were called for an urgent meeting. Subsequently, the Anti-Ragging Committee and its squad were activated, and the allegations were examined in detail. The inquiry continued late into the night as committee members questioned doctors and reviewed the circumstances surrounding the complaint.