The Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) will initiate a fact-finding inquiry of its own into the suicide of Dr. Payal Tadvi at BYL Nair Hospital.
The party has constituted a three-member committee for the same, which includes Dr. Anil Kumar — a cardiologist and VBA’s Mumbai South candidate for the Lok Sabha elections.
Rekhatai Thakur, spokesperson of the VBA, said the decision to form a committee was taken after a series of narratives and reports emerged after Tadvi’s death.
“We learnt that she wasn’t the first one to be subjected to this kind of harassment. We felt that her death should not be seen as merely as a solitary case of harassment by three doctors but as a result of institutional lapses, for which the administration should be held accountable,” she said.
Ms. Thakur said that the committee will speak to students, faculty members, officials with the hospital administration as well as former students.
“We have learnt that there was no SC/ST cell in the college, and that she had complained six months ago but her complaint was not heeded. At present the administration has suspended a few officials, but I think the dean should also be held accountable,” she said.
Other members of the committee include Dr. Arun Sawant — former pro vice chancellor Mumbai University and VBA’s candidate from Bhiwandi in the elections, and retired judge Sumandas Salve.
Ms. Thakur said that they may add a practising doctor to the committee, if required, during the course of the inquiry. The party’s aim is to submit a report within one month.