From ‘Murga’ Positions to Denied Sleep: Bhavnagar Medical College Suspends Six in Ragging Scandal

Thirteen postgraduate doctors report systematic harassment, physical intimidation, and forced labor at the hands of their seniors, sparking a massive inquiry at the institution.

The halls of the Sir T Hospital Medical College in Bhavnagar have turned into a site of a grim investigation this week. What began as the routine rigours of medical residency for thirteen first-year postgraduate students in the Orthopedic Department has unravelled into a disturbing account of abuse. According to formal complaints, these junior doctors were subjected to systematic ragging, which included being forced into the painful ‘murga’ stress position, denied basic sleep, and coerced into working without the protection of lead aprons in the X-ray department.

Action from the Administration

Following the reports, an anti-ragging committee was swiftly convened. After an intense 8.5-hour deliberation, the panel, led by Dean Dr. Chinmay Shah, found six second-year students guilty of the charges. The college administration has handed down significant penalties: one student has been suspended for two years, three for one year, and two others for six months. Beyond the campus walls, the administration has confirmed that a police complaint will be filed against the accused, marking a serious escalation in how this case is being handled.

The situation remains fluid as authorities process the testimonies. While the dean’s office continues to record statements from all 13 complainants, the accused students are also being questioned. The pressure on the administration is palpable, compounded by protests from the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) and members of the local Rogi Kalyan Samiti, who have crowded the campus demanding that the college ensure these incidents are not repeated. Even the state government has taken note, with Health Minister Prafull Pansheriya calling for a detailed report and a thorough probe into the culture within the institution.

The Bigger Picture

This incident at the medical college, often referred to locally as GMC Bhavnagar, is a sobering reminder that the "hierarchy of medicine" remains a dangerous breeding ground for abuse. When senior students exercise unchecked authority over juniors—denying them rest or forcing them into unsafe work environments—it ceases to be "mentorship" and becomes a systemic failure of institutional oversight.

For the medical fraternity, this is a recurring shadow. Despite stringent anti-ragging laws, institutions often struggle to dismantle the power structures that allow second-year students to believe they have authority over their peers. The severity of these suspensions sends a strong signal, but the real test lies in whether the college can foster a culture where junior doctors feel safe enough to report such exploitation before it reaches a breaking point. As the inquiry continues, the focus remains on whether this will be a decisive deterrent or just another chapter in a long-standing struggle against campus bullying.