A doctor in Panchkula Civil Hospital has been booked for sexually assaulting a nurse who was on COVID-19 night duty while he was under the influence of alcohol. The doctor has been sent to deputation for 60 days by the hospital authorities.
On Tuesday, a video of nurses thrashing the doctor went viral on social media. The nurses claimed that they were forced to take this step after noting very sluggish action being taken by the top authorities. Although a probe has been conducted in the matter, the Haryana State Commission for Women expressed their dissatisfaction with the probe initiated by the hospital authorities.
On the midnight of Saturday, Dr Manoj Kumar, a psychiatrist had sexually harassed a 26-year old nurse who was on her night duty in Sector 6, Panchkula Civil Hospital. The victim in her FIR stated that the doctor used to conduct the rounds of the ward at around 9 pm. But on the night of Saturday, July 11, he came at 12 am and was drunk. She alleged that the doctor then entered the changing room of the ward, closed the door, and assaulted her.
“As she went inside the room, he tried to bolt it. When she resisted, he assaulted her, tried to remove her mask and forced himself on her. She pushed him away and ran to the intensive care unit, where she informed others and called the chief medical officer (CMO), principal medical officer (PMO), and nursing in-charge,” stated Kamaljeet Kaur, president, Panchkula Nurses Association.
The victim claimed that the hospital police post refused to take the complaint and asked her to go to the women police station. She had then filed an FIR in the women police station. In her FIR, she had mentioned that she feared a threat to her life. The hospital authorities had sent the victim on three days leave.
“An FIR was registered against the doctor (at the women’s police station) under section 354 A of the Indian Penal Code on Monday night. Today, the statement of the victim was recorded in front of the magistrate and we are investigating the case,” stated Assistant Commissioner of Police, Noopur Bishnoi.
Under Section 354 A of the IPC, any person guilty of using criminal force, intending to outrage the modesty of any woman shall be punished with a term not less than one year.
Panchkula CMO, Jasjeet Kaur said that the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) has submitted its report with the Director-General of Health Services (DGHS) and police is also probing the matter.
DGHS, Dr. SB Kamboj has also sought “second enquiry would be conducted against those who took law in their hands and beat up the doctor”.
