Uttarakhand High Court Forms Committee To Look Into The Haldwani Medical College Ragging Incident, Take Action

Taking note of the recent ragging incident that took place in the Haldwani Medical College, the Uttarakhand High Court has formed a committee to inspect the College premises, examine the video footage available and also examine the students and take appropriate action in the matter.

The Bench of Acting Chief Justice Sanjaya Kumar Mishra and Justice Ramesh Chandra Khulbe issued this direction on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea moved by Sachidanand Dabral seeking permanent measures to prohibit ragging throughout the Higher Educational Institutions.

In his plea, Dabral specifically referred to a viral video of an alleged incident of ragging at a government medical college in Haldwani, wherein, the students with their heads shaven and hands tied at backs could be seen walking in a queue around the campus.

Taking into account the alleged video clip of the Medical College, the Court observed thus:

"We have viewed the video clip which supports the contentions of the petitioner that 1st year MBBS students were tonsured, their hands were tied at their back and they were paraded in the day time and a guard of the college was following them. If it is an act of ragging, the action shall be punishable under the Anti Ragging Act. The National Medical Council should also look into the matter."

Agaisnt this backdrop, the Court formed a committee consisting of the Commissioner, Kumaon Division, and the DIG, Kumaon Division to immediately inspect the premises, examine the video footage available, and also examined the students and take appropriate action. The Court clarified that they will have the liberty to lodge criminal cases against the guilty party.

With this, the matter was listed for further hearing on March 23. 

As per the report of The Indian Express, following a video of a group of first-year MBBS students, all tonsured, going viral, the Haldwani Government Medical College administration last week called an inquiry to look into the ragging angle.

In the video, which is making rounds on social media, tonsured students in lab coats can be seen walking silently in a line with heads down and hands behind their backs.

Case title - Shri Sachidanand Dabral v. Union of India & Ors.

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