Doon Medical College: 40 MBBS students protest after failing Anatomy Practical, Varsity to scrutinize allegations 

Dehradun: The MBBS students of Government Doon Medical College recently staged a protest alleging irregularities in results. The agitation ensued after 40 out of 52 students of the 2017 batch, who appeared for supplementary exams, were failed in anatomy practicals, even though they scored good marks in the theory part. The students, who were failed, would have to repeat the year back.

In their written complaint to the Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Uttarakhand Medical Education University (HNBUMEU), which runs the medical college; the agitating MBBS students alleged that the Head of Department (HoD), Anatomy, has "deliberately" failed them in the practicals due to personal reasons. They have stated that the results are "intensely manipulated". Other MBBS students of the medical college also joined the protest extending their support.

In June, 150 second-year MBBS students had appeared for the annual examinations, of which 52 had failed in theory as well as practicals. Accordingly, in August, these 52 students appeared for the supplementary examinations. While they all passed the written test, 40 flunked in the practicals and were given a year back. The students stated that they were failed by just one or two marks.

The agitating MBBS students have submitted serious allegations against the HOD Anatomy. It has been alleged that the professor was biased towards caste and used to misbehave with the students. The professor allegedly used to say, "If you can't learn, jump out the roof."

Senior batch students joined the protest alleging the same against the professor. "In particular, the HoD of the anatomy department has a reputation for doing this and many students in the past have also complained against him," the MBBS students alleged during the protest. They also accused the professor of threatening them throughout the year.

In their complaint, the students mentioned similar instances in the past where the professor had failed the students intentionally and detained them multiple times on the basis of attendance against the rules of the Medical Council of India (MCI).

One of the protesting MBBS students told Pioneer that the HoD Anatomy had openly told the students that he would see to it that all the students flunked the practical examinations.

On the other hand, the professor has denied such allegations against him. Justifying his side to Amar Ujala, he said, "The conspiracy is being plotted against me by some of the staff. If the practicals are being concerned, then whatever situation there is in it, I will put it in front of the inquiry committee."

Noting the seriousness of the matter, the university has constituted a five-member inquiry committee to probe if the allegations are true. The committee comprises of the Director of the Medical Education Department, Principals of Haldwani Medical College, Srinagar Medical College and upcoming Almora Medical College, along with HNBUMEU's controller of examination.

Further action will be taken on the basis of the report. Vice Chancellor Prof. Hemchandra informed that this inquiry committee will not only explain the reasons for this problem but will also suggest resolutions for this, so, the year that the students spent, shouldn't go in vain.

A senior official of the Medical Education Department told TOI that the practical examinations are conducted by a team of two internal and two external examiners. "It is a matter of surprise how all the examiners concurred on flunking the students by just one or two marks. If the students are alleging that a senior professor was biased against them, did the remaining three professors simply agree to whatever marks he gave and never felt like opposing his decision?"