The state-run Goa Medical College is back in the news, and yet again for all the wrong reasons. An associate woman professor has accused unidentified persons for sexually harassing her, by way of scribbling explicit and offensive reference to her body, on the wall and doors of her office.
The doctor, after allegedly failing to get support from her superior who is himself entangled in a sex scandal, lodged a police complaint yesterday. Taking prompt action into her complaint, the Agassaim police station filed a First Information Report (FIR) against the unknown persons under sections 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of Indian Penal Code and section 3 of prevention of damage to public property act. Sources said the investigation team is likely to summon her department doctors-cum-staff for questioning on Monday.
The hospital has in the recent past been dragged in negative limelight in view of cases against women. While in the present case the accused is yet to be nailed, in a separate incident around 3 years ago, another lady doctor had complained against her Head of Department of sexual harassment, torture and professional discrimination.
Not only woman colleagues but a couple of medical students too faced such situations. Some cases are reported while some go unreported or allegedly lies abandon with hospital authorities without action.
In 2013, a senior doctor was booked for sexual harassment on a complaint filed by a medical student. The student had accused the doctor of sending her sexually explicit messages, passed vulgar remarks and intimidating her since Feb 2013. The women’s police station registered an FIR whereas GMC authorities set up a committee to probe the accusations.
Earlier, some students of the Goa Dental College (GDC) had lodged a complaint with the former dean against one of the lecturers, complaining about his misbehaviour towards female students.
This was not it. In 2014, a Russian victim of molestation had faced an embarrassing situation while undergoing examination at the GMC.
The tourist had complained about how a doctor asked her to take her top off for a purported medical examination of molestation. His gesture indicated his wrong intensions. She was at that time brought to the hospital by the police in a case of molestation wherein she had alleged some locals molested her on the streets, in the northern coastal belt. The case caught international headlines with diplomats from Russia and India seeking investigation. The Indian medical association had demanded action against the doctor even as the North Goa Collector was tasked by the government to conduct an inquiry.
TEAM TNV
