Kerala High Court has granted permission for Dr. Ruwais, a postgraduate student accused of abetting the suicide of his girlfriend Dr. Shahana, to resume his medical studies. Dr. Shahana’s untimely death in late 2023 was allegedly linked to her family’s inability to meet the exorbitant dowry demands set by Ruwais’ family, which included 150 sovereigns of gold, 15 acres of land, and a BMW car.
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: The Kerala High Court has granted permission for Dr. Ruwais, a postgraduate student accused of abetting the suicide of his girlfriend Dr. Shahana, to resume his medical studies. The case has drawn significant attention due to the grave allegations and the tragic demise of Dr. Shahana, who was also a postgraduate surgery student at the Government Medical College in Thiruvananthapuram.
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Dr. Shahana’s untimely death in late 2023 was allegedly linked to her family’s inability to meet the exorbitant dowry demands set by Ruwais’ family, which included 150 sovereigns of gold, 15 acres of land, and a BMW car. The demands, as reported, were beyond the means of Dr. Shahana’s family, leading to distressing circumstances that culminated in her suicide.
Following the incident, Ruwais faced severe repercussions, including the suspension of his medical license by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and his subsequent arrest. He was charged under Section 306 (abetment of suicide) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act. Although he was granted bail on December 22, 2023, the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College suspended him from his MS (Master of Surgery) Orthopaedics degree program, prompting him to seek legal recourse.
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Ruwais’ petition to the High Court was a plea to overturn his suspension and allow him to continue his education. Justice Mohammed Nias C.P., presiding over the case, ruled in favor of Ruwais, stating,
“Taking into account the merit of the petitioner and the fact that irreversible loss will be caused if he is not allowed to continue his studies, by way of an interim order, I direct the respondents to permit the petitioner to re-join for the course forthwith by staying the operation of Ext.P1 (suspension order) and all the further proceedings…. The respondents will take such measures to avert any untoward incident in the college on account of the petitioner rejoining the course.”
The court acknowledged the severity of the accusations against Ruwais but emphasized the principle of ‘presumption of innocence until proven guilty.’ It was noted that denying Ruwais the opportunity to continue his studies could result in irreversible damage should the charges against him not be substantiated. The court remarked,
“Even convicts have certain fundamental rights despite being found guilty…there is a presumption of innocence as far as an accused is concerned.”
The decision has been met with mixed reactions, highlighting the complex interplay between legal rights and societal expectations. The plea was represented by Senior Advocate C C Thomas, along with Advocates M G Karthikeyan and Nireesh Mathew.
This ruling underscores the challenges faced by the legal system in balancing the rights of the accused with the demands for justice and societal safety. As Dr. Ruwais prepares to rejoin his course, the case against him continues, leaving a community in search of closure and justice for Dr. Shahana.
The case, titled Dr.Ruwise E.A V The Principal Govt. Medical College, WP(C) NO. 5220 OF 2024, remains a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggles against dowry practices and the quest for justice in the face of tragedy.
Case title-Dr.Ruwise E.A V The Principal Govt. Medical College
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