The Goa Pradesh Youth Congress handed over a Memorandum to the Dean of Medical College Dr. Shivanand Bandekar appealing them to revoke the rustication order against the 5 interns. Speaking to the Dean, they questioned the Dean how a rustication order could be given when the investigation was still on. They demanded why such a harsh step was taken only after the Health Minister tweeted about the event.
VishwajitRane@visrane· 5 interns who were found with possession of drugs at GMC hostel campus will be rusticated, directions have been given to Dean of @GoaGmc in this matter. I have also instructed him to issue a show-cause notice to the Warden and carry out a detailed investigation in this regard.2112144
VishwajitRane@visrane·Out-station police has already registered a case with Agacaim police station. Such lapses in the institution will not be tolerated.
Moreover, the discrepancy in the dates of report and rustication order was another mismatch of fact, they pointed out. During the meeting with the Dean, it was revealed that the while the incident happened on the 26 May, FIR was filed on 28 May, but rustication order was issued on 25 May. Further, the Chief Warden didn’t mention the names and wrote that it was found in a common room. The FIR was then lodged against an unknown person.
Advocate Varad Mardolkar, President, Goa Pradesh Youth Congress said, “We asked for immediate revocation of rustication. Drugs have reached everywhere. The CM, police, and GMC Dean are responsible for allowing drugs to enter the college. The CM has failed to curb the drug trade.”
He asked the Dean to treat the students like victims instead of criminals. Mardolkar clarified that they are against drugs. But went it reaches the colleges, means the police are also involved. Who will catch those responsible for bringing it to the college? With two days left for their internship, why rusticate them, when they could be punished instead.
The Dean of GMC Dr. Shivanand Bandekar said the step was taken as it was of serious nature. “This is the first time this has happened. We conducted all the tests and the reports are confidential. We will send the matter to the Government.”
He pointed to cases where tourists are brought dead due to drug overdose and heard of cases from other colleges. “It is a dreadful dream, we became overcautious. Nobody should object because it is in the larger interest of the medical community,” he explained.