The Hindu (Thiruvananthapuram)
Shahana’s death: HC quashes directive to allow doctor to continue his PG studies
A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Wednesday set aside a single judge’s directive to the Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS) and the Principal of the Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College allowing A. Ruwise, a doctor accused in a case registered in connection with the suicide of doctor Shahana, to rejoin in the medical college to pursue his postgraduate studies.
The Bench comprising Chief Justice A.J. Desai and Justice V.G. Arun while closing an appeal filed by the State government and the Principal against the single judge’s interim order, also directed the authorities to complete the disciplinary proceedings initiated against Ruwise in a week.
Single judge’s stance
The single judge had observed that taking into account the fact that the doctor was only an accused in the crime and that he had obtained admission on merit for the postgraduate course, keeping him away from studies pending the inquiry or trial would place him in such a situation where the damage would become irreversible in case the charges are not proved.
The court set aside the interim order of the single judge on the grounds of not providing sufficient opportunity for the KUHS and the Principal to place their case before the single judge.
Ruwise accused in a case registered in connection with the suicide of Shahana, a doctor
Panel completes probe
State Attorney N. Manoj Kumar submitted that if sufficient time had been granted to the varsity and the Principal to file counteraffidavits with relevant documents and permitted to argue the matter, the grievance raised in this appeal might not have arisen. The inquiry committee constituted to look into the issue had completed its inquiry.
The court also requested the single judge to decide the petition challenging his suspension filed by the doctor at the earliest.