Tamil Nadu: College ordered to Pay Rs 5 lakh to harassed doctor

Chennai: A homeopathic doctor who was subjected to harassment and mental agony by the management of Venkateswara Homeopathy Medical College in the city got a reprieve with the Madras high court enhancing the compensation of just Rs 25,000 to a whopping sum of Rs 5 lakh. The college had harassed her for her failure to adhere to the dress code by issuing certificate to her  9 months after she completed the course.

“The appellant was made to file a series of petitions to continue her internship and even to obtain the certificates. The college appears to have no concern for the welfare of the students. The college, under the guise of discipline, imposed the dress code. The dress code was set aside by this c-ourt at the instance of the appellant. The appellant was engaged in a series of litigations against the mighty management of the medical college. The management tried their level best to delay the internship and issuance of necessary certificates. In view of the harassment and mental agony suffered by the appellant, we are of the view that the single judge was not correct in awarding Rs 25,000 as cost”, the bench added and directed the college to pay Rs 5 lakh as compensation to her.

Kamalam passed her final examination in August 2008. Due to her inability to adhere to a particular dress code introduced by the college during her internship training, she was denied training from November 11, 2008. She approched the high court twice afterwards. First time, she was permitted to continue her internship. Second time she was appealing for the availability of her certificates. While it was pending, the college provided her the certificates deliberately omitting  important details and hence she filed the present appeal for seeking compensation of Rs 30 L.