PMC-run Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College (BAVMC)

Pune: At least four women employees of the PMC-run Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College (BAVMC) have come forward with a complaint against an official of the institute, alleging harassment and sending unwanted messages.Medical College Dean (Additional Charge) Sunita Sawant ordered the officer to be sent on compulsory and indefinite leave.In a letter addressed to Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) chief Sawant, PMC additional commissioner and Pune MP Muralidhar Mohol, the women alleged that the officer repeatedly called them to his cabin, made them wait for hours, obstructed their work and subjected them to mental harassment. She further alleged that he sent her personal and indecent messages through WhatsApp, which caused inconvenience and hurt her modesty.Sawant said, “We have constituted an inquiry committee under the Vishakha guidelines to probe the allegations. The complaint reached us only a few days ago and we will investigate it thoroughly. It is too early to comment on the role of the police in this matter. However, the workplace should be safe for every woman.”TOI’s multiple calls and messages to the officer remained unanswered till the time of filing this report.The letter alleges that the complaint has been filed collectively by women staff members of the medical college.The letter dated June 1 alleges: “The conduct of the officer has made the workplace unsafe for women employees. Despite being a senior officer, he repeatedly behaved rudely and interfered in the personal lives of women employees despite their objections. We demand an independent investigation into the matter and appropriate action against the accused while ensuring anonymity of the complainants.”“The college has been embroiled in several controversies in the past, including repeated notices from the National Medical Commission for failing to meet the prescribed norms.