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Students at Medinirai Medical College and Hospital (MRNMCH) in Palamu, Jharkhand, have launched an indefinite strike demanding the removal of their principal, Dr. Jaideep Kumar Chowdhary, following a series of serious allegations including harassment, intimidation, and the creation of a hostile campus environment.
Incident Sparks Outrage
Tensions reached a boiling point after a female student was reportedly forced to wait outside her hostel gate for over an hour at night. The student, returning late from hospital duty located about 5 km from the hostel, was denied entry due to a 9 pm curfew. She was eventually allowed inside only after her peers intervened, leading to a confrontation with the principal. A video of the altercation, in which Dr. Chowdhary allegedly threatened to ruin students’ careers, quickly went viral and intensified the protests.
Allegations Against the Principal
Students have accused Dr. Chowdhary of a range of inappropriate actions, including:
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Making inappropriate and sexist remarks towards female students
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Imposing a ban on interactions between male and female students, even with parental consent
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Installing CCTV cameras near girls’ washrooms, raising privacy concerns
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Enforcing a strict dress code for female students
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Ordering police raids on student hostels, allegedly to harass and intimidate students
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Verbally abusing students who challenged his policies
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Threatening academic sabotage, reportedly saying, “Let’s see how any of you will pass,” and “I will ruin your career”
Complaints also extend to poor infrastructure, such as non-functional air conditioners in classrooms, lack of water supply in the boys’ hostel, frequent power outages, and the absence of lifts in multi-storey hostel buildings.
Widespread Support and Official Action
The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has written to Jharkhand’s Health Minister, calling for an independent inquiry and immediate disciplinary action. FAIMA’s letter described the principal’s behavior as “mental harassment” that undermines students’ well-being and dignity. Resident Doctors’ Associations from across India, including the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), have expressed solidarity with the protesting students.
Background of Complaints
Reports indicate that complaints about Dr. Chowdhary’s conduct date back to his previous postings, with similar allegations of inappropriate behavior and misuse of authority. Students and faculty have described the campus environment as “pressurized and coerced,” making it difficult to study or work.
Administrative Response
After students filed complaints, the Palamu district administration conducted raids in both boys’ and girls’ hostels, citing reports of misbehavior. While some contraband was found in the boys’ hostel, no objectionable material was discovered in the girls’ hostel. Female students, however, alleged that the raid was orchestrated to intimidate them following their complaints against the principal.
Disclaimer
This article is based on allegations and reports from students, medical associations, and media sources. The claims made against Dr. Jaideep Kumar Chowdhary and the administrative actions at Medinirai Medical College are currently under investigation. No formal findings of guilt or disciplinary action have been announced at the time of publication. Readers are advised to consider that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven otherwise, and further developments may clarify or alter the facts as presented here.
