Gujarat’s health department has taken action against six students of Government Medical College, Bhavnagar, after an inquiry found them guilty in a ragging case. One student has been suspended for two years, while the other five have also been handed disciplinary punishment.The action came after the college’s anti-ragging committee held a lengthy meeting that began at 5 pm on June 18 and continued until 2 am on Friday, following instructions from health minister Praful Pansheriya after the alleged ragging incident was reported.During the nine-hour meeting, the committee recorded written statements from first-year, second-year and third-year students of the Orthopaedics department. Statements were also taken from faculty members and support staff. Based on the findings, one student was suspended from the college for two years. Three students were suspended for one year each, while two others were suspended for six months. All six students were also ordered to leave the hostel immediately and vacate their rooms by the evening.The health department said the suspended students will not be allowed to take part in academic, clinical, research or any other college-related activities during their suspension period.Speaking on the action, Pansheriya said, “There will be no compromise on the safety and dignity of students. The state government’s policy towards ragging is one of zero tolerance,” he said.The minister also said that antisocial, inhuman and indisciplined acts such as ragging would not be accepted under any circumstances in medical colleges across Gujarat. Health department officials, the additional director, the college administration and the anti-ragging committee have also been directed to complete the inquiry within two days of receiving the complaint.
