GMCH Principal transferred to Nalbari amid harassment probe, five months on
Synopsis
Five months after a senior woman doctor at GMCH filed a harassment FIR, the Assam government has quietly transferred the accused Principal to Nalbari — without mentioning the pending inquiry in the order. The silence in the transfer notice raises pointed questions about institutional accountability in Assam's public health system.
Key Takeaways
The Assam government transferred GMCH Principal Dr Achyut Baishya to Nalbari Medical College and Hospital with immediate effect on 7 July 2025 .
Dr Babul Kumar Bezbaruah has been appointed the new Principal-cum-Chief Superintendent of GMCH .
A senior woman doctor filed an FIR at Panbazar Women Police Station in February 2025 , alleging harassment, intimidation, and administrative victimisation.
The Assam government had constituted a two-member inquiry committee headed by women officials to examine the complaint.
The transfer order makes no mention of the pending inquiry or any reason for the administrative reshuffle.
The Assam government on Monday, 7 July 2025, transferred Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) Principal Dr Achyut Baishya to Nalbari Medical College and Hospital, nearly five months after a senior woman doctor filed a workplace harassment complaint against him, triggering a police investigation and a government-ordered inquiry. The administrative reshuffle, issued with immediate effect, comes while both proceedings remain pending.
The Transfer Order
According to a notification from the Medical Education and Research Department, Dr Baishya has been posted as Principal-cum-Chief Superintendent of Nalbari Medical College and Hospital with immediate effect. Replacing him at GMCH is Dr Babul Kumar Bezbaruah, who was previously serving as Principal-cum-Chief Superintendent at Nalbari. Notably, the transfer order does not cite the pending inquiry or offer any stated reason for the reshuffle.
The Harassment Allegations
In February 2025, an Associate Professor and former Head of the Department of Clinical Psychology at GMCH lodged an FIR at Panbazar Women Police Station, alleging workplace harassment, intimidation, and administrative victimisation during Dr Baishya's tenure as Principal. The complainant alleged that Dr Baishya repeatedly insisted she meet him alone in his office and made remarks she described as inappropriate and unprofessional. She further accused him of delaying administrative decisions, obstructing her department's functioning, and hampering efforts to strengthen mental health services at the hospital.
Government and Police Response
Following the allegations, the Assam government constituted a two-member inquiry committee headed by women officials to examine the complaint. Police simultaneously initiated a preliminary investigation into the matter. At the time, Dr Baishya denied any wrongdoing, stating he had been advised not to comment publicly, while maintaining that he possessed all relevant documents and would cooperate fully with the inquiry.
What Happens Next
The status of both the government inquiry and the police probe remains unclear following Monday's order. The transfer, silent on its rationale, is likely to draw scrutiny from women's rights groups and medical fraternity observers who have been tracking the case. This comes amid broader national attention on workplace safety mechanisms in government medical institutions, where harassment complaints have historically faced slow institutional responses.
Point of View
And the complainant's institutional position remains unchanged. For women in government medical colleges, the signal sent by such quiet reshuffles matters as much as the outcome of any formal inquiry.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was GMCH Principal Dr Achyut Baishya transferred?
Dr Achyut Baishya was transferred from GMCH to Nalbari Medical College and Hospital by the Assam government on 7 July 2025. The transfer order does not cite any reason, but it comes nearly five months after a senior woman doctor filed a workplace harassment FIR against him.
What were the harassment allegations against Dr Baishya?
An Associate Professor and former Head of the Department of Clinical Psychology at GMCH alleged in an FIR filed in February 2025 that Dr Baishya repeatedly asked her to meet him alone, made inappropriate remarks, delayed administrative decisions, and obstructed her department's functioning.
What action did the Assam government take after the FIR?
The Assam government constituted a two-member inquiry committee headed by women officials to examine the complaint. Police also initiated a preliminary investigation. The status of both proceedings has not been officially updated following Monday's transfer order.
Who is the new Principal of GMCH?
Dr Babul Kumar Bezbaruah, who was previously serving as Principal-cum-Chief Superintendent of Nalbari Medical College and Hospital, has been appointed as the new Principal-cum-Chief Superintendent of GMCH.
Did Dr Baishya admit to the allegations?
No. Dr Baishya denied any wrongdoing at the time the allegations surfaced. He stated he had been advised not to comment publicly but maintained he had all relevant documents and would cooperate fully with the inquiry.
