Lucknow institute received 14 bodies from Sirsa dera

LUCKNOW: The Dera Sacha Sauda allegedly sent 14 human bodies to a medical college in Lucknow for medical studies earlier this year in violation of rules.

The GCRG Institute of Medical Sciences in Bakshi Ka Talab allegedly received these cadavers from the Sirsa-based organisation.

A letter from the union ministry of health and family welfare raised doubts about the manner in which the bodies were brought as there were allegedly no death certificates. Also, the college did not comply with the standard procedure while receiving such bodies for medical studies, the letter said.

UP’s inspector general (law and order) Hari Ram Sharma said an inquiry will be conducted into the matter.

The ministry’s letter also says the college violated the protocol for obtaining cadavers. This is mentioned as one of the factors while assessing the college infrastructure before giving final approval to run a medical college.

Accepting the recommendations of the Medical Council of India committee, the union ministry of health and family welfare reiterated its earlier decision of May 31, 2017 to debar the college from admitting students for a period of two years (i.e 2017-18 and 2018-19 ) and to authorise the MCI to encash the bank guarantee of ₹ 2 crore.

The eighth page of the nine page letter dated August 19, 2017 from the ministry reads the college was neither aware nor following the provisions of biomedical waste rules.

“Moreover, the explanation offered by the college in obtaining 14 cadavers from ‘Dera Sacha Sauda’ Sirsa, Haryana without requisite permission and death certificates is a serious issue to be looked into by the authorities concerned,” the letter pointed.

The letter undersigned by DVK Rao, under-secretary with the ministry, said in view of the above, despite the fact that no deficiency of faculty and residents was noted, the functioning of the hospital as per norms is in serious doubt. It said the committee agrees with the decision of the ministry vide letter dated May 31, 2017 to debar the college for two years and also permit MCI to encash bank guarantee.

Despite multiple calls and text messages, college managing director Abhishek Yadav did not respond to queries over the controversy.

For its part, Haryana government has ordered an inquiry to ascertain if Dera Sacha Sauda had sent human bodies to the medical college in Lucknow in violation of rules. Haryana’s director general of health services has been asked to complete the inquiry at the earliest, according to PTI. “There have been reports in the media that about 14 bodies being sent from the Dera to a medical college in Lucknow. If this was done, all formalities should have been completed. The reason for sending the bodies must also be ascertained,” Haryana health minister Anil Vij said.

NORMS VIOLATED, UP INSPECTOR GENERAL (LAW AND ORDER) HARI RAM SHARMA SAID AN INQUIRY WILL BE CONDUCTED INTO THE MATTER