Sunil Chadha
Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh government has invoked Section 9 of the Resident Doctor Policy, 2025, to terminate the services of a senior resident doctor at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla, whose purported video of assaulting a patient on a hospital bed has gone viral.
The video showed the scuffle occurring after the doctor purportedly spoke rudely to the patient, addressing him as ‘tu’ instead of ‘aap’, to which the patient and his relatives objected.
According to official orders issued by the Director of Medical Education and Research, the action was taken against Dr Raghav Nirula, Senior Resident, after a disciplinary inquiry committee concluded that the incident amounted to “misconduct, misbehaviour, improper conduct and an act unbecoming of a public servant”. The inquiry report held both the patient and the doctor responsible for the altercation.
FIR lodged by patient’s relatives on December 22
As per the order, the disciplinary committee’s preliminary report was received on December 22, 2025, which detailed a scuffle between 32-year-old patient Arjun Panwar and Dr Nirula within the hospital premises. Following the incident, the patient’s family lodged an FIR against the doctor, which is currently under investigation by the police.
Based on the preliminary inquiry report and video clips of the incident, Dr Nirula was first suspended from senior residency on December 22 under Section 9 of the Resident Doctor Policy, 2025. Subsequently, on December 23, the state government constituted a high-level inquiry committee and directed it to submit a factual report within 72 hours. Acting on the committee’s findings, the services of the doctor were terminated with immediate effect.
On the directions of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the committee was asked to submit its report by December 24, which it did on Wednesday. Copies of the termination order were sent to the Health Secretary, Director of health services, IGMC Principal and the Medical Superintendent for information and necessary action.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur condemned the incident and said such occurrences should not take place in a noble profession like medicine. He said doctors should exercise patience, especially when patients come under stress. Referring to the viral video, Thakur added that everyone, including doctors, should speak with basic civility, which was part of the state’s culture.
At the same time, the State Association of Medical and Dental College Teachers Association (SEMDICOT) has come out in support of the accused doctor. The association has demanded a fair and impartial investigation and sought legal action against those who allegedly instigated the crowd and led protests inside the hospital. SEMDICOT warned of a statewide agitation if its demands are not addressed.
SEMDICOT office-bearers alleged that protesters cordoned off the Pulmonary Medicine ward for over three hours, causing inconvenience to admitted patients and doctors alike, and creating an atmosphere of fear and disorder within the hospital premises.
