HRC Complaint after MS ENT medico EVICTED from Hostel: Medical College Draws Controversy

Mumbai: Controversy engulfed Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College (Seth GS Medical College) after it issued an eviction notice to an MS ENT student barring her stay at the campus hostel, and the student in return approached the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC) claiming that the eviction was a harsh decision and she was being harassed.

The Indian Express reports about the incident relating to a final year MS ENT student who had accommodated two of her family members in her room including her brother, after the brother underwent a nose surgery and needed a place to stay for a few hours.

The medico claimed that she had no other arrangements at the moment and she had to go on her duty at the medical institute, so she let her mother and sibling stay at her hostel room for a few hours.

As this action by the medico was against the campus policy, she was given an eviction notice within 24 hours. Distraught, the MS student claimed that the King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEM Hospital), under which the Seth GS Medical College runs, has taken a harsh decision, which not only affects her studies but also makes her subjected to harassment.

The KEM Hospital has the freedom to draft its own set of rules for its medical students and after the direction of the hospital only; the MS student was evicted from the medical college hostel.

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Consequently, seeking a directive against the medical institute’s decision, the PG medico approached the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission. During its recent hearing on the matter; sides, the hospital and the student presented their contentions.

In her complaint, the MS student alleged that she was being targeted and harassed due to internal politics. “My brother underwent a nose surgery and was required to rest for a few hours. Since I was on duty and had no alternate arrangements, I accommodated them in my hostel room,” she justified her stance while speaking to The Indian Express.

A hostel roommate alleged that her brother had clicked pictures without permission and complained to the hospital management. “The security found no photos in his phone, but I was asked to vacate my room in 24 hours,” she said.

In its response, the hospital submitted that the student had shown non-apologetic behaviour and so it maintained its stand to evict her from the hostel premises.

It further informed the commission that it had taken similar action against two students in the past. “The Additional Municipal Commissioner supports the decision of KEM management,” they added to their response on the said allegations made by the PG medico.

However, the hospital assured the commission that she would be accommodated in another hostel 3 km away from the campus so that her studies would not get affected.

Observing the submissions and KEM’s Hospital authority to draft its own rules, the Commission questioned whether the hospital management can take such a “harsh decision of evicting a student from the hostel and affecting her studies” for bringing her brother and mother to stay in the hostel room.

Reaching its verdict, the commission stated, “Let’s not make it an ego fight,” and encouraged settlement between the PG medico and hospital by asking her to submit an apology letter and requesting KEM hospital to reconsider their decision.

The commission added that “the internal rift should not affect a medical student’s education.”

The human rights commission closed the matter last week, noting that the hospital had found alternative accommodation for the MS student.

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