SURAT: ‘Nai Naveli Dulhan Ho’, a faculty member reportedly told first-year students to endure harassment by senior residents during an inquiry into the suicide of postgraduate student Dr Harsh Pandya.During the inquiry, the committee found that some first-year students had approached two faculty members on Friday evening to complain about harassment by senior residents. At the same time, second-year residents had complained that the juniors were not carrying out their assigned work.One faculty member reportedly told the first-year students, “Aap log nai naveli dulhan ho, ye sab face karna padta hai. (You are a newly wed bride, you have to face all this).”The committee found faculty members at fault for failing to intervene and resolve tensions between senior and junior residents and for not creating a harmonious academic environment.Following the inquiry, four faculty members of Government Medical College (GMC), Surat, including microbiology department head Dr Sumaiya Mulla, Dr Sangeeta Rajde, Dr Yogita Mistry and Dr Latika Purohit, have been served show-cause notices.The inquiry committee was co-chaired by GMC dean Dr Jayesh Brahmbhatt and New Civil Hospital superintendent Dr Parul Vadgama. It included doctors, a mamlatdar, police inspector, student representative, Junior Doctors’ Association representative and parents’ representative, among others.The college council unanimously approved the committee’s report, which was subsequently submitted to the state government following a review aimed at preventing similar incidents.Dr Harsh Pandya, a 29-year-old first-year MD microbiology student from Aravalli district, died by suicide at the Government Medical College campus in Surat on Sunday.He was found hanging in his PG hostel room after he failed to report for his scheduled emergency duty at New Civil Hospital and did not respond to calls from colleagues.His father, Subhas Pandya, who is also a doctor, said Pandya had previously mentioned harassment by seniors.Following his death, health minister Praful Panseriya ordered an internal inquiry, while Khatodara police registered an accidental death case. A panel of doctors later conducted a forensic post-mortem to ascertain the exact cause of death.
