Suicide of PG student after ‘ragging’: Gujarat suspends Surat medical college Microbiology department head

The Gujarat health department has suspended Dr Sumaiya Mulla, the head of Microbiology Department, Government Medical College, Surat, for 90 days holding her responsible for not preventing the ragging that led to the alleged death by suicide of a first-year postgraduate medical student, Dr Harsh Pandya, on August 9.

Mulla has to spend her suspension period at Government Medical College, Vadodara, a government release said on Wednesday. The suspension order issued by the Health and Family Welfare department and seen by The Indian Express, said, "Dr Sumaiya Mulla could not prevent the ragging incident in the Microbiology department that took the life of an innocent Resident doctor Harsh Pandya.

She is accountable for this very serious, irresponsible, and negligent act, showing a lack of sincerity". Dr Mulla has been accused of violating the Gujarat Civil Service (Conduct) Rules 1971 section 3(1) mandating government servants to "maintain absolute integrity, devotion to duty and do nothing that is unbecoming of a government servant" The health department also issued a show-cause notice to Surat Government Medical College (GMC) Dean Dr Jayesh Brahmabhatt.