Panel to probe HoD’s ‘gift’ demand

Panel to probe HoD’s ‘gift’ demand

BJMC ENT Head Asked A Student To Gift Her Drill Set, Allege Junior DocsTIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad: 01.01.2022

During the Christmas season when children usually expect gifts from Santa Claus, a senior faculty at a medical college in Ahmedabad is facing an investigation on allegations of ill-treatment and demanding gifts from her

students.

In a  letter to the  faculty dean, Gujarat University, the Junior Doctors’ Association has alleged that  the head of the ENT department at BJ Medical College (BJMC), Ila Upadhyay, asked one of her students resident doctor Saurabh Banerjee to gift her a micro-meter drill set.

“When the student refused to gift her the medical device, he was threatened that his senior residency would be terminated. Using her position, she has tried to take undue favours in the form of gifts. We want the authori-ty to take immediate action against her else we will launch a protest,” said JDA vice-president Oman Prajapati, a student at the ENT department.

In a video message circulated on social media, Banerjee is seen narrating how the HoD demanded the drill set, his refusal and the alleged harassment by her.

Sources in the department said Banerjee had recently gone on leave andt here was an issue regarding the forwarding of his application.

Upadhyay, head of the ENT department, said no such incident had taken place and that she was being targeted. “There are already three drill machines in the department, so why should I demand one from the students?” Upadhyay said.

Jayesh Sachdeva, the faculty dean at Gujarat University, said they have received a complaint in the matter. “We have decided to form a three-member committee to investigate it. The findings of the committee will be sent to the state government for further action,” said Sachdeva.

In another letter to the college authorities, signed by ENT department students, they have written about alleged harassment in the department under the HoD.