Gandhinagar/Bhavnagar, June 19 (IANS) Gujarat’s Health Department has ordered strict disciplinary action against six students of the Government Medical College in Bhavnagar after an investigation into a ragging complaint found them guilty, with one student suspended for two years and all six ordered to vacate their hostel rooms immediately.

The action followed a marathon meeting of the college’s Anti-Ragging Committee, which began at 5 p.m. on June 18 and continued until 2 a.m. on Friday.

The meeting was convened on the instructions of State Health Minister Praful Pansheriya after the alleged ragging incident was reported.

According to the Health Department, the case was treated with urgency by officials in Gandhinagar, the Additional Director and the Anti-Ragging Committee.

During the nine-hour meeting, written statements were obtained from first-year, second-year and third-year students of the Orthopaedics Department, as well as from concerned faculty members and support staff.

The committee also conducted a detailed review of available documentary evidence before reaching its conclusions.

Based on the findings of the inquiry and following directions from the Health Minister, the Anti-Ragging Committee imposed disciplinary penalties on the students found responsible for the incident.

One student has been suspended from the college for two years, while three students have been suspended for one year. Two other students have been suspended for six months.

All six students have been ordered to leave the hostel with immediate effect and were directed to vacate their rooms and inform the college administration by the evening.

The Health Department said the suspended students will not be allowed to participate in any academic, clinical, research or other college-related activities during the period of their punishment.

Pansheriya said the state government would not tolerate ragging or any behaviour that compromises the safety and dignity of students.

“There will be no compromise on the safety and dignity of students. The state government’s policy towards ragging is one of zero tolerance,” Pansheriya said.

He stated that antisocial, inhuman and indisciplined activities such as ragging would not be tolerated under any circumstances in any medical college in Gujarat.

He added that “the state government, under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, remains committed to maintaining student safety, dignity and a healthy academic environment and would continue to take strict action against such incidents”.

Pansheriya also praised officials of the Health Department, the Additional Director, the college administration and members of the Anti-Ragging Committee for completing the investigation within two days of the complaint and taking time-bound action against those found responsible.

“Officials worked in continuous coordination until 2 a.m. to ensure a fair inquiry, evaluate evidence and deliver prompt action in the case,” he said.

Addressing students across the state, Pansheriya urged anyone facing ragging, mental harassment, coercion, threats or any other form of inhuman treatment to immediately report the matter to their college’s Anti-Ragging Committee, the college administration or other competent authorities.

“No student should tolerate such pressure or inhuman acts. The Anti-Ragging Committee and the Health Department are fully committed to the safety and justice of every student, and every complaint received will be acted upon promptly and strictly,” he said.

–IANS

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