Jaipur: Govt Medical College, Barmer, has taken disciplinary action against 79 MBBS students over allegations of ragging by freshers, including insulting behaviour and pressure to keep short hair, dress formally and conform to a prescribed format of addressing seniors.College authorities said these instructions were sent through WhatsApp calls and text messages by 2025-batch MBBS students to their first-year counterparts.The disciplinary action comes in response to complaints of ragging that followed.As part of the action, 13 students have been permanently expelled from the hostel and barred from academic activities for either 30 or 60 working days. That means they will not be able to participate in lectures, practicals, ward postings and examinations for the duration of their punishment.Another 11 students were expelled from the hostel for 30 working days and barred from academic activities for 15 working days.All of the above students have also been banned from cultural and sports activities for one year.Warnings have been issued to a further 50 students, stating that any future involvement in ragging or similar misconduct will lead to permanent expulsion from the hostel. All of them have been barred from academic activities for seven working days, and from cultural and sports activities for one year.Finally, five students have been given warnings and instructed to ensure their parents present themselves before college administrators within three days.The college said the seniors concerned were identified on the basis of student statements and available facts, and action was taken based on their individual roles and involvement.According to the college administration, the matter came to light when faculty members noticed several junior students who had cut their hair very short. When approached confidentially, they alleged that the haircuts were based on instructions from seniors.College administrators also found video footage of the students getting their haircuts at a salon in Barmer city.The medical college’s principal, Anoop Gurjar, said the institution follows a zero-tolerance policy towards ragging, indiscipline and misbehaviour with students.“Any such activity with students at any level is not tolerated under any circumstances,” he said.The Barmer case comes at a time when National Medical Commission (NMC) has received complaints alleging ragging and harassment of first-year MBBS students from 12 different medical colleges in the state.NMC has directed these institutions to ensure student safety, preserve evidence and conduct fair inquiries under anti-ragging regulations.
