Dental students go on strike over t-shirt tiff
By IANSTuesday, February 1, 2011
CHANDIGARH - Students of a Panjab University medical institute went on an indefinite strike Tuesday, following the institute director’s remarks over a girl’s t-shirt.
High drama was witnessed on the premises of H.S. Judge Institute of Dental Sciences after a female student levelled allegations against institute’s director Krishan Gauba of humiliating her in public.
The student said that Gauba directed her to unzip her jacket and to show the t-shirt to him in front of other students, making the situation uncomfortable for her.
Following this, institute’s students, who were supported by Panjab University Campus Student Council (PUCSC) leaders, went on an indefinite strike. Students also raised slogans against Gauba and demanded his resignation. However, so far, no written complaint has been submitted to the higher authorities.
The strike badly affected the services of the Outpatient Department (OPD) that is run by the institute.
However, the director refuted all the allegations. “The student was wearing a t-shirt which had a heart painted in red colour with a quote ‘I love New York’. I just told her to avoid wearing such gaudy clothes as they have to look after patients and these things could send wrong messages,” said Gauba.
Gauba called the parents of the student and discussed the issue with them.
Earlier also in 2009, students of the same institute had problems with Gauba regarding the dress code. Girl students were not allowed to wear jeans but after widespread protests the direction was taken back.
