Lucknow: A day before it was scheduled to begin, the proposed strike at King George’s Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow, was called off after an assurance from Chief Minister Adityanath. Out-patient department services resumed normally on January 14, but the complaint over alleged vandalism inside the Vice-Chancellor’s office on January 9 still does not appear to have been registered as a first information report, keeping staff on edge and the campus tense.

Patients returned to clinics, faculty members went back to classrooms, and administrative offices opened as usual. Yet behind this outward normalcy, many employees remain concerned about the absence of police action regarding the incident that sparked the unrest.

A complaint filed by KGMU at the Chowk police station alleged damage to government property, disruption of official work, and a breach of campus security during a visit by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Aparna Yadav, who is also vice-chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh State Women’s Commission, on January 9. Despite repeated follow-ups, no FIR has been confirmed by police yet.

The decision to withdraw the strike came late on January 13, after KGMU Vice-Chancellor Soniya Nityanand met the chief minister, the chief secretary and the principal secretary (home). In an official press note, the university said that Adityanath had called the January 9 incident “serious” and assured the university of “swift and appropriate action.” Based on this assurance, staff organisations agreed to continue OPD services.

What the statement did not clarify was whether the police had registered an FIR or when such action might follow. For many on campus, this silence from the authorities remains the central concern.

“The assurance has restored services, not confidence,” said a faculty member, requesting anonymity. “We are continuing to work because patients cannot suffer. But the question we raised has not yet been answered.”

Background

The January 9 unrest is closely linked to allegations of sexual harassment and forced religious conversion of a woman doctor – a Masters student of pathology – against Dr Rameezuddin Nayak, a senior resident doctor of the same department at KGMU.

Nayak was arrested by Lucknow police on January 9 following a complaint filed by the woman junior resident. Police said Nayak had been absconding since the registration of an FIR on December 23, 2025 and carried a reward of Rs 50,000. He was apprehended near Lucknow railway station in a joint operation by the Surveillance Cell (West Zone) and Chowk police.

Hindutva organisations such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal had held protests at the hospital, demanding action against Nayak.

Revisiting January 9

On January 9, when Aparna Yadav visited the campus to meet the vice-chancellor, ostensibly to speak on the junior resident's complaint. University officials say she arrived with a group of nearly 150-200 people outside the vice-chancellor’s office.

Authorities allege slogans were raised against the vice-chancellor, doors were broken open, and vandalism occurred inside official premises. Staff and students present in the building panicked, and routine administrative work was disrupted. The administration called it a serious breach of campus security and law and order.

Later the same day, KGMU Chief Proctor Dr R.A.S. Kushwaha submitted a written complaint to Chowk police, alleging abusive language against officials, damage to government property, and disruption of examinations, including an MBBS medical exam. The complaint also mentioned that a mobile phone officially allotted to the vice-chancellor went missing during the incident.

On the evening of January 9, Aparna Yadav met Chief Minister Adityanath at his residence. Sources said the discussion focused on the unrest and the allegations of vandalism on campus.

Confrontation

When no FIR was registered in the hours after the complaint, tensions rose on campus. Staff unions representing teachers, resident doctors, nursing staff, and employees held a joint meeting on the same day. They resolved that OPD services would be boycotted if an FIR was not registered within 24 hours.

KGMU is one of the largest public healthcare institutions in Uttar Pradesh, with around 3,000 beds, nearly 400 faculty members, and over 60 departments, serving thousands of patients daily. Staff representatives argued that allowing alleged vandalism inside the vice-chancellor’s office to go unaddressed would undermine the institution’s authority and safety.

“This is not about personalities,” said an employee union representative. “This is about whether a government university can expect the law to act when its administrative spaces are violated.”

Escalation to the government

As police inaction continued, the KGMU administration escalated the matter. On January 12, the administration sent a letter to CM Adityanath, the additional chief secretary (medical education), the district magistrate of Lucknow, and the police commissioner. It stated that despite a formal complaint, no FIR had been registered, leading to resentment among staff. The letter said that the proposed strike was a direct outcome of this inaction.

After meeting the chief minister, Vice-Chancellor Nityanand told a news agency that she had briefed him about the Vishaka Committee report on Nayak and the university’s decision to expel him. “The chief minister was satisfied with our decision,” she said.

On allegations of religious conversion, she added, “The chief minister said a Special Task Force probe will bring out the truth, if there is any, as the country’s security is of paramount importance.”

Earlier, activists from organisations such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal staged demonstrations demanding strict action against the accused doctor.

Calm on the surface

When contacted, Additional Police Commissioner (West) Vishwajeet Srivastava declined to comment on the status of the complaint. There has been no public statement explaining the delay in registering an FIR.

For many at KGMU, the episode symbolises deeper institutional anxiety. Staff argue that political assurances, while welcome, cannot replace formal legal processes. “Assurance is not action,” said a faculty member. “The law has a procedure, and that procedure begins with registering a case.”

Their concern is not just about one incident, but the precedent it sets for campus security and administrative autonomy. Staff unions say they are monitoring developments closely.

Political fallout

Aparna Yadav, vice-chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh State Women’s Commission, is also a senior BJP leader. She is the daughter-in-law of Samajwadi Party founder and former chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav and the wife of Prateek Yadav. She joined BJP after distancing herself from the Samajwadi Party.

Political observers say the KGMU episode has raised questions about her political judgment, particularly given the strong institutional backlash. Since joining BJP ahead of the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, she has not contested Lok Sabha elections nor been appointed chairperson of the State Women’s Commission. Analysts suggest the controversy could influence her future in politics.

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