Villupuram suicide: Fresh post-mortem of girl in presence of family doctor
Chennai: The Madras high court on Wednesday ordered second post-mortem on the body of one of three girl students of SVS Medical College of Yoga and Naturopathy Science and Research Institute in Villupuram, found dead in a well on January 22.
Passing orders on a petition filed by M.K. Tamilarasan, father of one of the deceased girl Monisha, Justice R. Subbiah also acceded the request of the petitioner to conduct the postmortem in the presence of a doctor of his choice.
The judge said, “In view of the facts and circumstances, irrespective of the submissions made on either side, since the request for second post-mortem has been made by the father of the deceased girl as he had a suspicion over her death and also in view of the fact that the autopsy was conducted despite his objection and without his consent, I am of the opinion that the prayer now sought for by the petitioner can be considered and ordering such post-mortem, no prejudice would be caused to any one.
Accordingly, re-postmortem is ordered to be conducted over the body of the petitioner’s daughter Monisha in any of the government hospitals in Chennai”.
Directing authorities to permit petitioner’s doctor, Dr P. Sampath Kumar, head of the department of forensic department and vice principal of Sri Ramachandra Medical College in Porur, to be present at the time of re-postmortem, the judge posted to Feb. 5, further hearing of the case.
‘We were docs, patients during inspections’
Like Munnabhai MBBS and Vasoolraja MBBS movies, students of SVS Medical College of Yoga and Naturopathy were used as doctors and patients during inspections, reveals Vanishree, one of the former students of the college.
“I was forced to act as a nurse in one room and doctor in another room. Even the patients and hospital beds also were hired for inspection,” she told reporters on Wednesday.
Three girl students of SVS Medical College of Yoga and Naturopathy at Villupuram had committed suicide by jumping into a farm well over alleged harassment by the management demanding ‘exorbitant’ fees.
The deceased girls V. Priyanka, T. Monisha and E. Saranya were in second year BNYS (Bachelor of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences). “When we joined the college there was not even a building and proper classrooms,” Kannadasan, one of the former students said. “We were forced to work as construction labourers. The college also collected extra amount than the fixed fees,” he said.
“The college in the name of practical marks threatened us and treated us like the bonded labourers. We gave complaints to the district administration, TN Dr MGR Medical University, Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-corruption, Fees Committee but nothing happened,” he added.
“If the officials properly conducted inspection and took action against the college on former students complaints this incident wouldn’t have taken place,” Arul Murugan one of the classmates of the three deceased students said.
Mani, also a second year student of BNYS (Bachelor of Naturopathy and Yogic Science) hoped to go abroad and earn as he comes from a poor family.
“First I tried for veterinary sciences but I couldn’t get the admission as my marks were low. I selected this college only because the government had listed it for counselling,” he said.
The students have alleged that there were many injuries on the deceased students’ bodies. Their hands were tied. All of them didn’t know swimming. Then why should they tie hands and jump into the well, they questioned.
The students suspect it might be a case of murder as these three girls told the truth about the college during an enquiry with the Villupuram district collector. The girls were asked to come when the rest were on holiday. They suspect foul play. Action should also be taken against all government officials who were
in connivance with the college authorities and didn’t take any action, S. Jim Raj Milton from People’s Right Protection Centre demanded.
Shift us to another college: SVS students
Protests continued at SVS college on Wednesday over the alleged suicide by three girl students of the college.
Protesting students sought action against the culprits and also asked to be shifted to another institution. “We don’t have any facilities here, no classrooms, no staff, no hostel nothing. All our complaints went unheard. At least, after three girls lost their lives, authorities should listen to us,” Aiswarya Rani, a homeopathy student of the college told DC.
Whenever students raise complaints to authorities, they are threatened.
“We don’t even have separate classrooms for homeopathy and naturopathy courses. But fees have to be paid correctly or else they won’t allow us to attend class. If we ask for transfer certificates they often threaten us,” she added.
Students say classes always start late and labs and hostels are in bad condition.
“We have complained thousand times about the lack of facilities in the college to various officials, but they didn’t take any action. We would not have lost three lives if they had taken action,” said another student of the college.
Students’ protest continued till late in the night. They said they will continue the protest till their demands are approved.
“The government should not wait for the death of another student to take action. We have to be shifted to another college without further donation or fee. Compensation should be paid to the families of the three girls,” said Vel, first year student of SVS college.
Students said they will extend their protests to Dr MGR University, to which the college is affiliated. Three students of SVS College committed suicide by jumping into a well near the institution blaming high fees and chairman of the college Vasuki Subramanian for their death.
