An Army court has exonerated a military doctor of molestation charges brought against him by a Major’s wife. The case dated back to 2022, involved the wife of a Major who had visited a military hospital in Maharashtra complaining of chest pain. The doctor, a Lieutenant Colonel with 19 years of service, examined the woman. However, a few days later, she accused him of molesting her during the examination.
The General Court Martial (GCM) acquitted the doctor of molestation charges under Section 354 but found him guilty of not following established procedures for examining female patients. Specifically, the court ruled that the doctor had failed to ensure the presence of a female assistant during the examination, as required by military protocols. For this violation, he received a “severe reprimand” and a loss of 18 months of seniority for pension purposes.
Anand Kumar, the doctor’s counsel, stated, “This was a case where a doctor with 19 years of service had to face a charge of molestation on a complaint filed by an officer’s wife. The GCM has rightly exonerated the Army doctor of the molestation charges.”
The GCM, presided over by a Colonel from an armoured training centre, noted inconsistencies in the statements given by the complainant and her mother, who was present during the examination. Witness testimonies did not align with the claims made by the complainant, and the court found no evidence of disturbance or shouting during the examination. The court further validated the medical procedure followed by the doctor, as confirmed by expert witnesses.
Although the GCM punished the doctor for not ensuring the presence of a female assistant, Kumar argued that this responsibility lies with the commanding officer, as per regulations.
The Military Court’s findings and orders remain subject to confirmation by senior military authorities.
