Payal Tadvi suicide case: Former head of gynaecology unit approaches High Court challenging trial court's decision

Former Gynecology Department Head Challenges Charges in Payal Tadvi Suicide Case Before Bombay High Court

In a fresh legal twist to the 2019 Payal Tadvi suicide case that shook India's medical community, the former head of BYL Nair Hospital's gynecology department has approached the Bombay High Court seeking to quash charges framed against her by a trial court. The development comes more than four years after 26-year-old Dr. Tadvi, a promising second-year postgraduate student from a tribal community, took her own life following alleged caste-based harassment by seniors.  

The petition filed by Dr. Yi Ching Ling (name changed) contends there is no substantive evidence linking her to the alleged abetment of suicide or violations under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Legal sources reveal the petition argues that as department head, she cannot be held vicariously liable for actions of junior doctors without proof of direct involvement. This challenges the trial court's earlier finding that she failed in her supervisory role despite multiple complaints.  

The case had initially led to the arrest of three accused doctors - Dr. Hema Ahuja, Dr. Ankita Khandelwal and Dr. Bhakti Mehare - who remain on trial. Investigators had cited hostel complaint registers and WhatsApp messages suggesting Dr. Tadvi faced persistent humiliation about her tribal identity and academic performance.  

Dr. Tadvi's mother Abeda reacted sharply to the new petition, telling reporters: "First they took my daughter, now they want to wash their hands of the crime. The evidence shows how the system failed to protect her." The family's legal team points to statements from other students alleging that complaints about ragging were routinely ignored by department authorities.  

Legal experts note this petition could test the boundaries of institutional accountability in ragging cases. "The court's decision will clarify whether department heads can be held responsible for failing to prevent caste discrimination under their watch," explained senior advocate Rajiv Chavan. The hearing comes amid renewed scrutiny of caste-based discrimination in medical education, with several student organizations planning demonstrations outside the High Court during proceedings.  

The Bombay High Court has issued notices to the state government and Dr. Tadvi's family, with the next hearing expected in November. As the legal battle continues, the case remains a painful reminder of the systemic challenges faced by marginalized students in India's premier educational institutions.