HC says accused can’t pursue PG at hospital

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court (HC) on Friday upheld its previous order that barred the three accused of abetting Dr. Payel Tadvi’s suicide from continuing their postgraduate education at BYL Nair Hospital. However, the court revoked the suspension of Hema Ahuja, Bhakti Mehar and Ankita Khandelwal’s medical licences.

On Friday, special counsel for the state, Raja Thakare, informed the court that after a meeting between the head of the department of obstetrics and gynaecology BYL Nair hospital, Dr Ganesh Shinde, and other doctors, paramedics, staff and students, it was decided that the presence of the accused would disturb the atmosphere at the civic hospital campus and affect healthcare services. Dr Shinde was present in the court on Friday.

On Thursday, advocate Abad Ponda, who represented the accused, said since BYL Nair Hospital has three units of gynaecology and obstetrics, the accused could be reinstated in a different unit from their original department to prevent them coming in contact with the witnesses.

However, the court did not consider this as a viable solution on Friday. While the authorities are awaiting the court order to figure out the question of what liberties the restored medical licences may grant Ahuja, Mehar and Khandelwal, they will not be able to complete their postgraduate degrees for the duration of the trial. TP Lahane, director, Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER), Maharastra, said, “They won’t be allowed to take admission in other colleges as well to continue their education.”

Dr Payal Tadvi, a second-year postgraduate student of BYL Nair Hospital and Topiwala National Medical College, committed suicide on May 22, 2019. On May 29, 2019, the police arrested Ahuja, Mehar and Khandelwal, charging them under sections 306 (abetment to suicide) and 201 (destruction of evidence) of the Indian Penal Code and section 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.