Nursing interns at the Government Medical College and Hospital in Doda walked out of their duties on Wednesday, citing religious discrimination. The standoff began when Dr. Madhu Chib, Head of the Gynaecology Department, allegedly ordered a student to exit the labour room for wearing a veil. By Thursday, the situation had escalated as two more students were reportedly forced to stand outside the delivery suite under similar pretenses. The interns termed this an unwarranted interference in their personal religious freedom, prompting a full-scale demonstration within the hospital premises.
The administration moved quickly to defuse the tension, intervening to call off the boycott and immediately forming a seven-member inquiry panel. Dr. Irfan Tassaduq, the Incharge Medical Superintendent, pushed back against the narrative of religious bias. He clarified that Dr. Chib’s instructions were strictly hygienic, requiring interns to tighten loose clothing and don gowns to prevent infection in high-risk surgical and labour areas. “Even doctors must follow these strict protocols,” Tassaduq stated, emphasizing patient safety over personal attire.
But the hospital’s internal resolution did not stop the controversy from spilling into the political arena. Doda legislator Mehraj Malik took up the issue directly with Health Minister Sakina Itoo, signaling the matter’s sensitivity in the region. Tanvir Sadiq, chief spokesperson for the National Conference, sharpened the attack, arguing that the Constitution guarantees the right to freely practice religion. Sadiq insisted that whether a woman chooses to wear a hijab is a matter of personal autonomy, warning against any institutional imposition on such choices.
The inquiry panel will now examine the specific circumstances surrounding the Wednesday and Thursday incidents to determine if protocol enforcement crossed into discriminatory territory. With political eyes on Doda, the hospital faces scrutiny not just on medical hygiene standards, but on how it balances institutional rules with the religious sentiments of its staff.