A damning internal investigation at Nagpur's Indira Gandhi Government Medical College (IGGMC), commonly known as Mayo Hospital, has found the head of the forensic medicine and toxicology department guilty of sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct towards a postgraduate student. The 14-member Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) submitted a confidential report to the dean, substantiating the serious allegations.
ICC Investigation Uncovers Concrete Evidence
The fact-finding inquiry, which took place between November 24 and December 4, was triggered by a collective complaint from three junior resident doctors, including a woman doctor. The committee, in its report submitted to Dean Dr. Ravi Chavhan on December 4, concluded that the complaint against HoD Dr. Makarand Vyawahare was "true, serious, and constituted sexual harassment".
The ICC's findings were based on multiple pieces of evidence. Crucially, CCTV footage verification confirmed an incident on November 7 in the mortuary. The footage showed Dr. Vyawahare placing his hand on the woman resident doctor's back during an evening autopsy, an act that visibly made her uncomfortable.
Furthermore, the panel reviewed an audio clip submitted by the complainant, which contained alleged personal and inappropriate remarks by the HoD. The committee held that such comments by a male teacher to a female student squarely fall under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.
Witness Testimonies and Broader Concerns
The committee's report gained strength from corroborating testimonies. Multiple written statements from fellow resident doctors supported the complainant's account. Additionally, a Class-IV employee testified that the woman doctor was present in the HoD's chamber for several hours on a Sunday afternoon, where she stated she was asked to work on her thesis.
The ICC also noted other concerning patterns of behaviour. These included alleged pressure on the junior doctor to write a letter refusing a particular guide, undocumented changes in autopsy duty rosters, and visible signs of stress and behavioural changes observed in the complainant.
Key Recommendations and Actions Taken
Based on its conclusive findings, the ICC made several strong recommendations to ensure justice and a safe environment. The primary recommendation is the immediate transfer of Dr. Makarand Vyawahare out of IGGMC. The committee suggested this transfer should remain effective until the current batch of four postgraduate students completes their MD, to ensure a fear-free academic environment.
Other recommendations include issuing a formal reprimand to the HoD for misconduct and initiating appropriate action under the Maharashtra Civil Services Rules. Recognizing the limits of its jurisdiction, the ICC also advised the establishment of a separate senior-level inquiry committee to probe issues that fell outside its scope.
Parallel to the internal probe, legal steps were already initiated. An FIR was filed against Dr. Vyawahare at the Tehsil police station during the inquiry, and the police have taken custody of the original DVR/NVR containing the crucial CCTV footage.
This case highlights the critical role of institutional committees in addressing workplace harassment and the importance of concrete evidence like CCTV and audio recordings in establishing the truth.
