Medical college professor in trouble after getting boy to tonsure head

HYDERABAD: An assistant professor from Government Medical College in Telangana's Khammam, responsible for preventing ragging at the hostel, faces heat for getting a first-year student's head tonsured to defuse a fight between seniors and juniors over his hairstyle on Tuesday.

Health minister Damodar Raja Narasimha on Sunday ordered officials to enquire into the incident and advised students not to ruin their future in the name of ragging.

Though there was no formal complaint from the student, the incident came to light after principal Dr S Rajeshwar Rao formed a three-member enquiry committee following a letter from a third party two days after the incident.

"We had allocated a room to Dr Rahman Shareef, an assistant professor from general surgery department, in the boys' hostel to ensure there is no ragging. On November 12, a first-year student was confronted by a senior as he was sporting a Chinese hairstyle. Without bringing the issue to our notice, Shareef intervened and got the boy's head tonsured," said Dr Rao

"After the initial inquiry, I ordered Dr Shareef to vacate the hostel. Higher officials were informed and a committee formed. Based on the committee's recommendations, we will initiate action," he added.

The boy, from Mulugu district, was reportedly told by seniors on multiple occasions to cut his hair as they did not feel it was appropriate for a medical student. Even on Tuesday, there was an altercation between first-year students and seniors in the mess during dinner over the issue.

Shareef, on his part, denied any wrongdoing and said, "When I walked into the mess, I saw seniors and this student arguing. As the situation became tense, I intervened as I was the only faculty in the hostel. When I returned to the mess after some time, I saw this student arguing with seniors again. His behaviour was unacceptable. I advised him to get his head tonsured to end the issue," said Shareef.

But instead of getting his head shaved, the boy came back with a different hairstyle, Shareef said.

"His move was disrespectful towards both seniors and me. As it was already late, I offered him a lift to the barbershop. The student came with me willingly. It was not ragging. I advised him to get his head shaved to close the matter. But it is being blown out of proportion by people with vested interests," he said, adding that first-year students even wrote a letter to the principal in his support.