Internal Complaints Committee Begins Probe After Junior Doctor’s Allegations
An additional professor in the Department of Paediatrics at King George’s Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow, has been suspended after a junior resident doctor filed a complaint alleging sexual harassment at the workplace, officials confirmed on Thursday.
The university administration has referred the matter to its Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) for a detailed inquiry. This marks the third such complaint reported at the institution since December last year, raising fresh concerns over workplace safety.
According to a video statement issued by KGMU spokesperson Prof. K.K. Singh and reported by Press Trust of India, an MD student alleged on Wednesday that a senior faculty member of her department sexually harassed her.
As per a report by The Times of India, preliminary findings of the ICC indicated that the allegations appeared to be substantiated. Following this, the accused faculty member was placed under suspension to prevent any interference with the ongoing investigation.
The professor has also been barred from entering the department and has been attached to the office of the dean of medicine during the course of the inquiry. The university stated that the action was taken to ensure a fair and impartial probe.
Prof. K.K. Singh said the accused allegedly called the resident doctor to his chamber on the pretext of official work, held her hand, and molested her. The complainant reportedly informed a woman faculty member before submitting a formal complaint, prompting the initiation of the inquiry.
Officials have stated that further disciplinary action will be taken based on the final findings of the ICC. The administration reiterated its commitment to maintaining a safe and respectful working environment on campus.
The incident comes close on the heels of other recent controversies at the university, including the arrest of a doctor over allegations of sexual exploitation and religious conversion, as well as the arrest of an intern in a separate alleged rape and blackmail case involving a nursing student.
