HYDERABAD: An assistant professor at Government Medical College in Khammam, Telangana, is under scrutiny after reportedly having a first-year student’s head tonsured in an attempt to resolve a dispute between juniors and seniors over the student’s hairstyle. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, has drawn criticism, and the state health minister has ordered an inquiry.
Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha directed officials to investigate the matter on Sunday, urging students to avoid jeopardizing their futures by engaging in ragging. Although the student involved did not file a formal complaint, the incident came to light when the college principal, Dr. S. Rajeshwar Rao, formed a three-member inquiry committee after receiving a letter from a third party two days after the event.
According to Dr. Rao, the assistant professor in question, Dr. Rahman Shareef from the general surgery department, had been assigned to the boys’ hostel to monitor for any incidents of ragging. On November 12, a conflict arose when a senior student confronted a first-year student over his “Chinese hairstyle.” Without informing the authorities, Dr. Shareef intervened and allegedly pressured the student to have his head shaved to resolve the matter.
Dr. Rao explained, “We had placed Dr. Shareef in the hostel to prevent any ragging. On the day in question, the first-year student was confronted by a senior over his hairstyle. Instead of reporting the issue to us, Dr. Shareef intervened and had the student’s head shaved.” Following an initial inquiry, Dr. Shareef was asked to vacate the hostel, and higher authorities were notified. An inquiry committee has been formed to assess the situation and recommend appropriate action.
The first-year student, from Mulugu district, had reportedly been asked multiple times by seniors to cut his hair, as they deemed it inappropriate for a medical student. Tensions escalated on Tuesday evening during dinner in the hostel mess when another altercation broke out over the same issue.
Dr. Shareef, however, defended his actions. He claimed that when he entered the mess and saw the student arguing with seniors, he intervened as the only faculty member present. He said, “When I returned to the mess after some time, the argument had resumed. The student’s behavior was unacceptable. I advised him to get his head shaved to bring the matter to a close.”
Dr. Shareef further explained that the student initially agreed to the suggestion but later returned with a different hairstyle. “I saw his new hairstyle as disrespectful to both the seniors and me. As it was late, I offered to take him to the barbershop, and he came with me willingly. This was not ragging; I simply wanted to resolve the issue,” Shareef said. He added that first-year students even wrote a letter in his support, stating that his actions were not intended to humiliate the student.
The college is awaiting the results of the formal inquiry, and depending on the committee’s findings, further disciplinary action may be taken.
