Following complaints of ragging from first-year students of the Madurai Medical College (MMC), the Anti Ragging Committee of the institution, which met on Saturday, recommended six months suspension of the second-year students involved, besides barring them from the college hostel for nearly one-and-a-half years, till their examinations in February 2020.
D. Maruthupandian, dean, MMC and Government Rajaji Hospital, said inquiries had revealed the involvement of 22 students in ragging. “The College Council will meet on Monday to formally suspend the students,” he said.
The incident came to light on Friday when the college administration was reportedly alerted by the committee, functioning under the Medical Council of India, to which some of the affected students had sent a complaint by email.
According to the complaint, ragging of students was going on for nearly a month. The juniors complained that they were asked to run errands, salute their seniors, wear only formal clothes even while sleeping and not allowed to sport moustaches.
Identities confirmed
Discreet enquiries were conducted with first-year students to confirm the veracity of the allegations. The Identities of some of the senior students were confirmed with the help of CCTV footage from the hostel premises, college sources said.
“Seniors are not allowed to enter the hostel block of first-year students. Their very entry, confirmed by CCTV footage, is a violation,” Dr. Maruthupandian said.
The committee, which included a Deputy Commissioner from Madurai city police and other members not connected to the college, decided not to pursue a police complaint as it felt that the college was capable of handling it and also since no physical abuse was reported by the first-year students.
“We want to send a strong message that ragging will be dealt with seriously and the college will show no lenience to the students involved,” the dean said.
