Shimla: Doctors’ Body Demands Reinstatement of IGMC Medic Terminated Over Patient Assault

Shimla, Dec 26: A day after the Himachal Pradesh government terminated a senior resident doctor for allegedly assaulting a patient at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), a prominent doctors’ body on Thursday threatened to go on mass casual leave, demanding immediate reinstatement of the medic.

The Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) of IGMC warned that its members would proceed on mass casual leave on Friday if the termination order of Dr Raghav Narula is not revoked. The association further said it would go on an indefinite strike from Saturday if their demand remains unmet.

The state government on Wednesday terminated Dr Narula, a senior resident doctor in the Department of Pulmonary Medicine, following an inquiry committee report that found him guilty of “misconduct”, “misbehaviour” and “acts unbecoming of a public servant” after a physical altercation with a patient, Arjun Singh, on Monday.

The inquiry report held both parties responsible for the incident. Arjun Singh, who teaches at a private academy in Shimla, and Dr Narula were found to be at fault during the confrontation.

On Thursday, the RDA held a gate meeting with the support of the Shimla Association of Medical and Dental College Teachers (SAMDCOT). The association demanded immediate revocation of the termination order and registration of a case for criminal intimidation, conspiracy and unlawful assembly against an individual identified as Naresh Dasta, who they allege directly threatened Dr Narula.

In a statement, the RDA said that if their demands are not addressed, they would meet Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday. Failing a resolution, they would begin a strike from 9:30 am on Saturday. During the strike, all routine services, including OPDs and elective operation theatres, would remain closed, except for emergency services.

The association also raised concerns over what it described as “mob intimidation” and “harassment” on the IGMC premises, which they said compromised the safety of healthcare professionals and disrupted hospital functioning. Alleging damage to government property, the RDA demanded strict legal action against those involved and a review of the security lapse.

Chief Minister Sukhu, meanwhile, said the government had already reduced the workload of senior resident doctors by cutting down their shift timings, yet such an incident still occurred. “Action has been taken against the doctor,” he said, adding that the matter should be resolved through dialogue in a democratic manner and that doctors had been asked to present their side of the story.

A video of the incident, which went viral, shows Dr Narula punching the patient in the pulmonary ward, while the patient is seen attempting to kick the doctor. Arjun Singh, a resident of Kupvi in Shimla district, had visited the hospital for a bronchoscopy and complained of breathlessness after the procedure. He alleged that the dispute began when the doctor addressed him as “tu” instead of “tum”, which he objected to, leading to the altercation.

Dr Narula, however, claimed that the patient instigated the fight by using abusive language against him and his family, and asserted that the viral video showed only part of the incident.

The episode sparked protests at IGMC on Monday, with relatives of the patient and others demanding the doctor’s arrest. The situation was brought under control after police intervention.

Meanwhile, the Federation of Resident Doctors’ Associations (FORDA), a national body, has submitted a representation to the Chief Minister seeking a transparent, time-bound and impartial inquiry. The association stressed that the dignity and rights of both the patient and the doctor must be protected and that neither should be prejudged based on partial video clips or public perception.