New Delhi: In a shocking case of alleged religious discrimination, seven medical interns from Saraswathi Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS) in Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, have been suspended for organizing a peaceful Janmashtami celebration on campus.
This unilateral suspension by the SIMS has triggered countrywide outrage from the RDAs and UDFA AND Medical fraternity in the country, seeking action against SIMS authorities.
The United Doctors Front Association (UDFA) has now stepped in, slamming the college management for targeting students over religious expression and demanding immediate intervention from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the National Medical Commission (NMC).
According to UDFA, the students, all from the 2019 MBBS batch, were merely celebrating Janmashtami on August 26, 2024, without causing any damage to college property or disrupting the peace.
Yet, the institute's management accused them of "indiscipline" and handed out suspensions.
The association has condemned the move as a gross violation of the students' constitutional right to freely practice their religion under Article 25.
Pattern of Discrimination? This suspension, according to UDFA, is just the latest in a string of grievances against SIMS.
The association has pointed to a broader issue of religious bias, alleging that such incidents of discrimination have become a pattern within the college.
In addition to the suspension, UDFA also highlighted ongoing complaints about the institute's unfair treatment of interns and postgraduate residents, particularly concerning stipend disparities.
Interns at SIMS, the association claims, are being paid significantly less than their counterparts in state-run medical colleges, furthering the students’ frustrations and adding to the already tense atmosphere at the institution.
UDFA’s Call for Accountability UDFA National Chairman Dr. Deepankar Chaudhary and National President Dr. Lakshya Mittal, in a letter to the NHRC and NMC, have demanded immediate action.
They argue that suspending students for celebrating a religious festival is not only punitive but an overreach that could jeopardize their academic futures.
The UDFA has called for a thorough inquiry into the matter and urged the authorities to hold the institution accountable for its discriminatory practices and its failure to provide adequate stipends.
With the spotlight now on SIMS, all eyes are on the NHRC and NMC to see how they respond to this urgent appeal.
The suspension of these seven interns has sparked a larger debate about religious freedom on college campuses, and the outcome of this case could set a significant precedent for the protection of students' rights in medical educational institutions across the country.
