Minor sexually assaulted by re-employed doctor at Kurukshetra govt hospital
Synopsis
A retired doctor re-employed as a consultant at a Haryana government hospital allegedly assaulted a minor patient multiple times inside the OPD — while her father lay admitted in the same facility. The accused is absconding, a POCSO case is registered, and the state has terminated his services, but questions about how such re-employment goes unchecked in public hospitals demand urgent answers.
Key Takeaways
A minor was allegedly sexually assaulted multiple times by Dr Shailender Kumar Shally at LNJP District Civil Hospital, Kurukshetra on or around 29 May 2025 .
The accused had retired as Principal Medical Officer but was re-employed as a consultant at the same government hospital.
The assault came to light at approximately 8:30 pm on 29 May when the victim was shifted to the emergency ward with excessive bleeding.
A case has been registered under Sections 6 and 10 of the POCSO Act at Kurukshetra University police station.
Director General of Health Services Sumita Misra ordered the doctor's immediate termination; he remains absconding.
The victim's father was also admitted to the same hospital at the time, reportedly under the care of the accused.
A minor girl was allegedly sexually assaulted multiple times by a retired and re-employed consultant doctor at the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash District Civil Hospital (LNJP) in Kurukshetra, Haryana, with the accused absconding after the incident came to light on 29 May 2025. The case has been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and the state government has terminated the accused's services with immediate effect.
What Allegedly Happened
According to police, the victim's father stated that the accused, Dr Shailender Kumar Shally, exploited the pretext of a medical examination to assault the minor. The accused allegedly made the girl lie on the examination bed, pressed her chest, and then assaulted her sexually — first digitally and then multiple times subsequently. The assault caused pain and bleeding, after which the doctor admitted the girl to the female ward before disappearing from the hospital.
The minor had initially been brought to the hospital complaining of stomach pain. Her father was also admitted to the same facility at the time, reportedly under the care of the same accused doctor, for a separate medical condition.
How the Assault Came to Light
Dr Upendra Singh, who was on emergency duty, told reporters that the minor was admitted to the female ward. At approximately 8:30 pm on 29 May, she was shifted to the emergency department after complaints of excessive bleeding. It was at that point that she disclosed she had been subjected to sexual assault on multiple occasions inside the hospital's OPD.
Following the disclosure, the victim was medically examined, counselled, and her statement was recorded under the provisions of the POCSO Act. A case was registered under Sections 6 and 10 of the POCSO Act at the Kurukshetra University police station.
Government Action and Accused's Background
Director General of Health Services Sumita Misra on Sunday ordered the immediate termination of Dr Shally's services, citing the gravity of the case. The accused had originally retired as Principal Medical Officer from the LNJP hospital but had been re-employed as a consultant — a contractual arrangement that has now drawn scrutiny.
Dr Shally remains at large. Police are reportedly conducting searches to locate and apprehend him.
Wider Concerns Over Re-Employment Practices
This case raises pointed questions about the screening and oversight mechanisms governing the re-employment of retired government medical personnel. The fact that the accused held a position of trust — and that the victim's father was simultaneously a patient under his care — underscores the vulnerability of patients in public health settings. Critics argue that background checks and supervisory protocols for re-employed consultants in government hospitals require urgent review.
Authorities are expected to conduct a broader inquiry into the hospital's administrative practices. The victim continues to receive medical and psychological support.
Point of View
Apparently, any enhanced oversight. The fact that the victim's father was simultaneously a patient under the accused's care makes the power asymmetry even starker. Re-employment of retired government doctors is common across Indian states, yet formal background-check or supervision protocols are rarely mandated. Terminating the accused after the fact is necessary but insufficient; what is needed is a systemic audit of re-employment practices in public hospitals, where patients — especially minors — have little recourse and enormous trust in authority figures in white coats.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at Kurukshetra's LNJP hospital?
A minor girl was allegedly sexually assaulted multiple times by Dr Shailender Kumar Shally, a retired doctor re-employed as a consultant at the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash District Civil Hospital in Kurukshetra, Haryana. The assault reportedly took place inside the hospital's OPD, and the accused absconded after admitting the victim to the female ward.
Who is the accused and what is his background?
The accused is Dr Shailender Kumar Shally, who had originally retired as Principal Medical Officer from the same LNJP hospital but was subsequently re-employed as a consultant. He is currently absconding, and police are searching for him.
What legal action has been taken in the case?
A case has been registered under Sections 6 and 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act at the Kurukshetra University police station. The victim was medically examined, counselled, and her statement recorded as required under the Act.
What action did the Haryana government take?
Director General of Health Services Sumita Misra ordered the immediate termination of Dr Shally's services on Sunday, citing the seriousness of the case. The government dismissed him from his re-employed consultant position with immediate effect.
How did the assault come to light?
The minor was admitted to the female ward with complaints of abdominal pain. On the evening of 29 May, she was shifted to the emergency department after developing excessive bleeding, at which point she disclosed to medical staff that she had been assaulted multiple times inside the OPD.
