Bitter pill: Delhi's MAMC junior doctors say forced to pay for seniors’ meals, undergo ‘murga’ punishment

NEW DELHI: A long-standing "tradition" of junior resident doctors paying for meals and snacks of their seniors allegedly continues at Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC), despite the administration having earlier issued directives to curb such practices, multiple residents have told TOI.The issue came to light after a post on X flagged various coercive practices on campus and sought help against them.TOI visited the college and spoke to several junior and senior residents, who said the practice has been continuing for years.Students said first-year postgraduate residents are allegedly coerced into bearing food expenses of second- and third-year residents and senior residents during duty hours, often running into thousands each month, placing a financial burden on them."We rotate payments among ourselves to manage the cost. I come from a lower-income family and have to borrow money from friends to pay my share," a resident said.The practice does not stop at that, residents said. "We are given ‘murga' punishment, reprimanded in front of patients and humiliated for mistakes," a resident said, adding that those who refuse risk being boycotted in a system where juniors heavily depend on seniors for clinical learning, especially in fields like surgery. "You can't afford to be on the wrong side of them," the resident said."It's called personality development here — a form of bonding with seniors. We comply to avoid getting targeted or falling into their bad books," he said.At MAMC, what would amount to ragging in plain terms is often passed off as "tradition", residents said.A junior resident, on condition of anonymity, described his experience: "They (the senior) called us inside the duty doctor's room and asked us to stand in anatomical position in a line. ‘Aankhen third button se upar nahi uthani chahiye. Speak only when asked,' we were told."Another resident alleged that juniors are sometimes asked to perform acts meant to amuse seniors during such sessions. He said such practices are often normalised, with some viewing them as part of assimilation while others feel pressured to comply."It has been reported that some residents are being compelled by their seniors to pay for their snacks/meals in the name of tradition in MAMC. You are requested to enquire into any such practice in your respective departments and take appropriate steps," a 2023 circular from the dean read, asking for a report to be submitted.TOI reached out to MAMC dean Munisha Agarwal, but there was no response.Despite the circular, the residents said the practices continue informally.Some senior residents, however, defended the system. "It's a harmless tradition, humne bhi kiya hai. We paid when we were in first year. It's voluntary — they can refuse. Waise bhi, kya ye bachche mana karenge jab ye second year mein aayenge?" one said."Some discipline is required. If they make mistakes, they will be reprimanded. Physical harm should not be there, bas," said another.The Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) president, Neeraj Azad Yadav, said, "We strongly condemn any form of harassment or intimidation and remain committed to ensuring a safe working environment for residents." He added that no incident of physical abuse has been formally or informally reported so far.RDA said such practices are not unique to MAMC and exist, in varying forms, across medical institutes, often normalised as part of senior-junior dynamics. While anti-ragging norms prohibit coercion and harassment, residents said such practices continue in a grey zone — not officially sanctioned, but rarely challenged.