'Tradition' or coercion? Junior doctors allege forced payments, humiliation at MAMC

New Delhi: A long-standing "tradition" of junior resident doctors paying for the meals and snacks of their seniors is allegedly continuing at Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC), Times of India reported, despite prior directives from the administration to curb such practices, multiple residents have said.

The issue resurfaced after a post on X flagged coercive practices on campus and sought intervention. Subsequent conversations with both junior and senior residents suggest that the system—informal yet entrenched—has persisted for years.

According to several students, first-year postgraduate residents are often expected to bear the cost of food for second- and third-year residents, as well as senior doctors during duty hours. The expenses, they said, can run into thousands of rupees each month.


“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.

But the burden, residents allege, goes beyond financial strain.

“We are given 'murga' punishment, reprimanded in front of patients and humiliated for mistakes,” a resident said, adding that refusal to comply can come at a cost. In a system where juniors depend heavily on seniors for clinical exposure—particularly in specialisations like surgery—falling out of favour is not an option. “You can't afford to be on the wrong side of them,” the resident said.

Another junior described how such practices are often framed as part of training. “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.

What might be classified as ragging in other contexts is frequently normalised as “tradition” within the institution, residents said.

Recalling one such instance, a junior resident said: “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.”

Others alleged that juniors are sometimes made to perform acts meant to entertain seniors during such sessions—practices that are often brushed aside as part of assimilation, even as some feel pressured to comply.

The concerns are not new. A 2023 circular issued by the college administration acknowledged complaints around the issue. “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,” the circular stated, seeking reports from departments.

Despite that, residents say the practices continue informally.

When contacted, MAMC dean Munisha Agarwal did not respond to queries.

Some senior residents, however, defended the system, describing it as benign. “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.

Another added, “Some discipline is required. If they make mistakes, they will be reprimanded. Physical harm should not be there, bas.”

The Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) has taken a firm stance against any form of coercion. “We strongly condemn any form of harassment or intimidation and remain committed to ensuring a safe working environment for residents,” said its president, Neeraj Azad Yadav, adding that no incidents of physical abuse have been formally or informally reported so far.

The RDA also noted that such practices are not unique to MAMC, but exist—often in varying degrees—across medical institutions, where senior-junior hierarchies can blur the line between mentorship and coercion.

While anti-ragging regulations explicitly prohibit harassment, residents say these practices continue to operate in a grey zone: unofficial, unacknowledged, and rarely challenged.