Did a Gauhati Medical College Doctor File an FIR Against the Principal for Harassment?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Guwahati, Feb 17 (NationPress) A senior female physician from Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) has officially lodged an FIR on Tuesday, claiming harassment in the workplace by the institution's principal, Dr. Achyut Baishya. This has led to both a police investigation and a government-appointed inquiry into the allegations.
The Associate Professor and former Head of the Department of Clinical Psychology had previously submitted an extensive complaint to the Chief Minister's Office on February 6, detailing a series of inappropriate behaviors, intimidation, and administrative victimization throughout her service.
Initially, the administration praised her efforts following the establishment of an independent department, yet relations deteriorated over time.
In her FIR, filed at the Panbazar Women Police Station in Guwahati, she reported that Dr. Baishya persistently urged her to meet him alone in his office, despite the availability of routine official meetings elsewhere in the hospital. She recounted remarks that made her feel uneasy.
In a particular instance, she alleged he requested her to contact him when she was 'absolutely free and alone' and implied that 'the door was always open' for her to visit him, comments she deemed unprofessional and troubling, considering the hierarchical nature of their relationship.
The complaint also describes alleged administrative hindrances, such as delays in her appointment as Head of Department and pushback against her proposals for academic enhancements.
She noted that a subsequent notification to dissolve her department and merge it with another deprived her of opportunities to further the mental health services she had championed.
According to the FIR, several victims are identified within the document.
In response to the allegations, Dr. Baishya stated he had been directed not to comment to the media and has prepared all relevant documentation for the inquiry.
Simultaneously, the Assam government has established a two-member committee comprised of women officials to investigate the issue, and police have initiated their preliminary inquiries.
This incident has ignited broader discussions regarding workplace ethics, gender sensitivity, and institutional accountability within public healthcare settings.