Health department asked to take action against professor accused of harassing 13 medical students

NEW DELHI: The Directorate of Vigilance, Government of Delhi, has written to The secretary of health and welfare department to take disciplinary action against a professor accused in an alleged sexual harassment case of 13 female MBBS students of Delhi medical college.

Thirteen female MBBS students of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital, Rohini accused an assistant professor, Salik Sheikh, of physical harassment.

According to the complainant, she is an MBBS student of the 2021 batch at a government hospital. A case has been registered under sections 354A (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the accused, police said. He was later granted bail, which led to students wide-spread protests, it added.

“The Health Department, GNCTD has so far not sent the file for taking disciplinary action. This was also inquired with the Health Department, GNCTD on 19.03.2024 by DoV Official and it was revealed that the Health Department, GNCTD has not yet sent this file to the Directorate of Vigilance, GNCTD,” the directorate said.

“It is requested to send the proposal for initiating necessary disciplinary action against accused professor to the Directorate of Vigilance, GNCTD for placing before the Competent Authority as per extant rules,” the letter read.

Several students staged protests and expressed solidarity with the victims. The Mahila Nyay Smiti also organised demonstration to address allegations of sexual harassment levied against a Muslim professor.