BJ Medical College ragging: 3 resident doctors suspended for up to 1 year
Synopsis
BJ Medical College's Orthopaedics Department — already scarred by a major ragging scandal in 2022 — is back in the spotlight. Three second-year resident doctors have been suspended for up to a year after a fresh anti-ragging inquiry, raising questions about whether the institution's internal mechanisms are sufficient to break a troubling pattern.
Key Takeaways
Three second-year resident doctors at BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad have been suspended following an anti-ragging inquiry.
Suspension periods range from six months to one year , depending on the individual's culpability.
The ragging occurred in the Orthopaedics Department and was reported by first-year resident doctors.
Health Minister Praful Pansheriya reaffirmed the Gujarat government's zero-tolerance policy on ragging.
The same department was at the centre of a ragging controversy in late 2022 , with findings then forwarded to the National Medical Commission and the University Grants Commission .
The Gujarat Health Department has committed to continuous monitoring across all medical colleges in the state.
Three second-year resident doctors at BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad have been suspended for periods ranging from six months to one year following an anti-ragging inquiry that found them guilty of harassing first-year residents in the Orthopaedics Department. The Gujarat government on 17 June reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on ragging in the wake of the disciplinary action.
How the Action Was Taken
The case was set in motion by a formal complaint filed by first-year resident doctors at the college. The institution's Anti-Ragging Committee conducted an inquiry and submitted its findings, after which disciplinary proceedings were initiated against the three accused students.
'Based on the committee's findings and submitted report, disciplinary proceedings were initiated against the three students,' the state Health Department said on Wednesday.
What the Government Said
Health Minister Praful Pansheriya said the government had treated the matter with the utmost seriousness and remained committed to ensuring a safe, respectful, and fear-free educational environment. 'Anti-social activities such as ragging in educational institutions will not be tolerated under any circumstances,' he said.
Pansheriya urged students to foster an atmosphere of mutual respect, sensitivity, and cooperation, stressing that the safety and mental well-being of students remained the state government's highest priority.
A Pattern of Concern at the Same Department
The latest incident has revived concerns about ragging within medical institutions, particularly in orthopaedic residency programmes. Notably, BJ Medical College's Orthopaedics Department was at the centre of a major ragging controversy in late 2022, when junior resident doctors accused senior residents of prolonged physical and mental harassment.
Complaints from that earlier episode alleged verbal abuse, intimidation, forced physical exercises, and assaults. The college's Anti-Ragging Committee questioned dozens of students before recommending suspension of the accused seniors. The inquiry findings were subsequently forwarded to regulatory authorities, including the National Medical Commission and the University Grants Commission.
Broader Enforcement Measures
The Health Department stated that anti-ragging regulations would be enforced rigorously across all medical colleges and educational institutions in Gujarat. Continuous monitoring will be undertaken to prevent similar incidents, and all necessary steps will be taken to safeguard students' interests and security.
The action comes as medical colleges across the country face increasing scrutiny over campus culture, with anti-ragging committees required to investigate complaints promptly and recommend disciplinary measures wherever violations are established. Whether this latest round of suspensions deters future incidents at BJ Medical College — which has now seen two such inquiries in under three years — remains to be seen.
Point of View
But they address symptoms rather than causes. The recurrence at BJ Medical College's Orthopaedics Department suggests that hierarchical hazing culture in postgraduate medical training persists despite regulatory oversight from the National Medical Commission and UGC. Gujarat's declared zero-tolerance policy will only carry weight if it is accompanied by mandatory sensitisation programmes, anonymous reporting infrastructure, and independent audits of anti-ragging committee processes — none of which have been publicly detailed in either the 2022 or 2025 cases.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad?
Three second-year resident doctors at BJ Medical College were suspended for six months to one year after the college's Anti-Ragging Committee found them guilty of ragging first-year residents in the Orthopaedics Department. The action was announced on 17 June by the Gujarat Health Department.
Who filed the ragging complaint at BJ Medical College?
First-year resident doctors in the Orthopaedics Department filed the complaint. It was subsequently investigated by the college's Anti-Ragging Committee, whose findings triggered formal disciplinary proceedings against the three accused students.
Has BJ Medical College faced ragging complaints before?
Yes. The Orthopaedics Department at BJ Medical College was at the centre of a major ragging controversy in late 2022, when junior residents alleged verbal abuse, intimidation, forced physical exercises, and assaults by senior residents. That inquiry led to suspensions and referrals to the National Medical Commission and the University Grants Commission.
What is the Gujarat government's position on ragging?
Health Minister Praful Pansheriya has stated that ragging will not be tolerated under any circumstances and that the safety and mental well-being of students is the state government's highest priority. The Health Department has also committed to rigorous enforcement of anti-ragging regulations across all medical colleges in Gujarat.
What happens after an anti-ragging committee submits its findings?
Once the Anti-Ragging Committee submits its report, the institution initiates formal disciplinary proceedings against the accused. In serious cases, findings can also be forwarded to national regulatory bodies such as the National Medical Commission and the University Grants Commission for further action.
