Saifai ragging: MCI sends notice to medical varsity

Agra/New Delhi: The Medical Council of India (MCI) has issued a show-cause notice to the vice-chancellor of Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences, Saifai, Etawah, over the alleged incident of ragging of the first year MBBS students, who were made to shave their head and salute their seniors, early this week. The council's letter has threatened to impose a fine of Rs 1.5 crore on the institution if it fails to respond within 24 hours.
Meanwhile, the principal secretary, medical education, has formed a three-member committee to probe the incident after the Etawah DM submitted its report about the incident.
University registrar SC Sharma confirmed that MCI sent a notice to the institution. He also said that a reply has already been sent to the council on Thursday itself. Though, he refused to divulge the details of the reply, he confirmed that nothing was found in the preliminary inquiry conducted by the varsity.
He further said that the university had also set up a 12-member member team, including a policeman, a journalist, and a tehsildar, to conduct an inquiry about the alleged ragging. “The inquiry will be completed by tomorrow noon and its outcome will be sent to the government and the authorities concerned,” he said.
The MCI notice, sent a day after TOI reported the incident, stated that the media reports brought out the complete failure of college authorities in addressing the menace of ragging. Stating that it was viewed very seriously by the council, the notice also threatened to declare the institute ineligible for any increase in seats or for starting any new course for a period of one year, which could be extended for a period “commensurate with the wrong”.
The notice stated that if no explanation was received within 24 hours, it would be “presumed that you have nothing to say in the matter” and the punishment indicated in the notice (Rs 1 lakh for each of 150 students who were subjected to ragging) would be imposed on the institution.
News reports on the “mass ragging” had quoted the vice chancellor of Saifai Medical University Dr Raj Kumar saying that ragging used to be a way to inculcate “sanskaar” even as he promised strict action.
The notice, signed by MCI secretary general Dr RK Vats, reads that the council office has taken a serious note of the news reports, which bring out the complete failure of college authorities in addressing the menace of ragging.
Talking to TOI, principal secretary, medical education, Rajneesh Dubey, said that he had formed a three-member fact-finding committee on the basis of a report submitted by the district magistrate Etawah on Wednesday, which confirmed that the first year students had acted under “duress”. He said the committee would submit a detailed report by August 28 and action would be taken accordingly.
“The government has taken this matter seriously and will fix the responsibility. Action will be taken against students if the allegations are found true,” said Dubey