BHOPAL / NEW DELHI — The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken a stern view of the suicide of an assistant professor at AIIMS Bhopal, issuing formal notices to the Union Ministry of Health, the Madhya Pradesh Police, and the institute’s administration. The intervention follows allegations that the deceased, an anesthetist identified as Srishti, took her own life due to persistent harassment by her Head of Department (HOD), Dr. Parvez, and the subsequent failure of the administration to act on her grievances.
NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo confirmed on Thursday, March 5, 2026, that the commission has demanded an action-taken report within 15 days. According to the complaint, Srishti had officially reported the HOD’s conduct to the AIIMS administration at least three times before her death two months ago. “The fact that there was no action taken even after repeated complaints is worrying,” Kanoongo stated, adding that the commission is seeking the FIR, the post-mortem report, and details regarding the institute’s Internal Complaints Committee and Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) protocols.
Media reports and the formal complaint suggest a “toxic work culture” at the premier medical institute, where the victim allegedly faced severe mental harassment. It is reported that Srishti attempted to render herself unconscious by consuming a sedative drug but ultimately succumbed. The complainant further alleged that previous grievances raised by other female doctors against the same HOD had been suppressed by the administration, prompting the NHRC to call for a high-level independent inquiry.
In a statement shared on social media, the NHRC expressed condolences to the bereaved family and emphasized that the suicide of a “promising doctor” is a loss to the medical fraternity. The commission has vowed to ensure that those found guilty of harassment or administrative negligence are punished, while also pushing for systemic reforms to protect medical professionals from workplace toxicity.
