Staff associations at King George’s Medical University (KGMU) have issued a sharp warning of protest, including suspension of outpatient department (OPD) services from January 13, over the delay in registering a First Information Report (FIR) following last week’s campus unrest. The staff have termed the delay a serious breach of institutional security and administrative autonomy.
Faculty members, non-teaching staff, resident doctors and nursing associations said they would convene a joint meeting on Monday to take a final call on the course of action. They warned that if an FIR is not registered on the complaint already submitted by the university to the police, essential non-emergency services, including OPDs, would be halted. The warning follows an incident in which a group allegedly attempted to force entry into the Vice-Chancellor’s office, triggering chaos and alleged damage to property.
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According to university officials, the incident occurred when Aparna Yadav, a Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Vice-Chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh State Women’s Commission, visited the campus with a delegation. She was reportedly seeking a meeting with the Vice-Chancellor in connection with allegations of religious conversion and sexual harassment involving two women.
Sources said that while waiting for the meeting, some individuals accompanying the delegation allegedly attempted to enter the Vice-Chancellor’s office forcibly, leading to commotion and panic within the administrative block. The university administration later submitted a written complaint to the police, alleging vandalism and disruption, and cited CCTV footage as part of the evidence.
Despite the complaint, no FIR has been registered so far. Police officials have maintained that a preliminary inquiry is underway and that statements are being recorded. Following concerns raised by the university over campus security, police personnel have been temporarily deployed inside the campus.
A senior faculty member said the episode was not an isolated incident. “This is not the first such occurrence in the past fortnight. On at least five earlier occasions, outsiders entered the campus without authorisation and confronted the administration over an alleged ‘love jihad’ case. The latest incident of vandalism has significantly heightened concerns about the safety of staff, students and patients,” the faculty member said.
The controversy is linked to a complaint filed by a woman resident doctor from the pathology department, who accused a male colleague from the same department of sexual harassment and coercion for religious conversion. The university’s Internal Complaints Committee, constituted under the Vishaka guidelines, conducted an inquiry and found the accused guilty. Following the findings, the police arrested the accused doctor on Friday.
University staff said the administration had fully cooperated with the inquiry and subsequent legal proceedings. However, they expressed concern that repeated entry of external groups into the campus was disrupting academic functioning and healthcare services at the tertiary care hospital.
In the immediate aftermath of Friday’s incident, faculty members, resident doctors and nursing associations had considered launching a protest. The decision was deferred in view of patient care responsibilities and ongoing examinations, with staff agreeing to exercise restraint temporarily.
A university spokesperson said the staff had two non-negotiable demands. “First, there must be concrete and lasting measures to strengthen campus security. Second, an FIR must be registered in the case of forced entry and vandalism at the Vice-Chancellor’s office. While police deployment has been ensured, the second demand remains unaddressed,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson warned that continued delay could embolden similar incidents. “This is a hospital campus that caters to thousands of patients daily. Any lapse in law and order directly impacts healthcare delivery,” the official added.
Police authorities reiterated that all aspects of the case were being examined and that a decision on registering an FIR would be taken after completion of the preliminary inquiry.
The developments have triggered a wider debate in academic circles over political or external interference in university campuses, particularly in cases involving serious criminal allegations.
The KGMU administration said entry checks had been tightened on a temporary basis and that longer-term measures, including improved access control systems and closer coordination with the police, were under consideration.
Staff representatives made it clear that if clarity does not emerge by January 13, they would proceed with a peaceful protest and suspension of OPD services. “We have shown restraint and acted within institutional norms so far, but security and the dignity of the university cannot be compromised,” a senior staff member said.
The outcome of Monday’s meeting is expected to determine whether the protest threat, including the proposed OPD shutdown, translates into action, potentially increasing pressure on the police and the state administration to take a formal call on the pending FIR.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
