'Wolf In White Coat': Karnataka High Court Restores Doctor's Suspension In Sexual Harassment Case, Pulls Up IAS Officer For Protecting Him

The Karnataka High Court has set aside the revocation of suspension of Dr. Ashwin Hebbar, an Associate Professor accused of sexually harassing his postgraduate students. [2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 282]

The Division Bench of Justice D K Singh and Justice T M Nadaf also directed disciplinary action against senior officials who, it found, had attempted to protect the doctor, including Mohammed Mohsin, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Medical Education, and Dr. Virupakshappa V, Director of the Shimoga Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS).

The Court was hearing a writ appeal filed by SIMS challenging the order of a Single Judge, as well as a writ petition filed by Dr. Hebbar challenging his transfer from SIMS to the Haveri Institute of Medical Sciences.

Describing the doctor in strong terms, the Bench observed, “…Dr. Ashwin Hebbar is a wolf in white coat. He must be proceeded not only with the pending disciplinary proceedings expeditiously, but also by the National Medical Commission and if found guilty, his license should be cancelled...”

Earlier, in an interim order, the division bench had noted as below:

“…A teacher who has been found guilty of sexually harassing/molesting his own student cannot remain in the same institution and this would add salt to the injury of the victim, humiliation and trauma to her who will face such a teacher every day in the Institute…”.

Quoting the famous doha of Saint Kabir Das to underline the sanctity of the teacher-student relationship, the Court said, “GURU GOVIND DOU KHADE, KAKE LAGUN PAYE? BALIHARI GURU AAPNE, GOVIND DIYO BATAYEIN” [Both the Guru and God are standing before me; at whose feet should I bow? Glory be to the Guru, for it is he who revealed God to me]

Referring to the allegations against Dr. Hebbar, the Court in its August 4 judgment observed,

“…The incidents which we have stated above are just opposite to the Doha and undermine it, with the Gurus like the one involved in this case, turns down the entire meaning of Doha. The misconduct of Dr. Ashwin Hebbar, in a professional college in this era, amounts to giving 'chilling effect to the spine'.”

To recap, Dr. Hebbar, an Associate Professor in the Department of General Surgery, was initially suspended on July 21, 2022, following a complaint of sexual harassment by a female student. The suspension was quashed by a Single Judge on June 19, 2024, due to procedural irregularities in the constitution of the Internal Complaint Committee under the POSH Act.

In June 2025, a second complaint was lodged by a second-year postgraduate student, alleging that the Doctor had sexually harassed her during a party in June 2025. An FIR was registered under Section 75(2) of BNS and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and Dr. Hebbar was subsequently placed under suspension on July 3, 2025.

The Internal Complaint Committee, in its final report dated August 5, 2025, found the allegations prima facie true, stating that Dr. Hebbar had sexually harassed her by inappropriately touching the complainant during the dinner.

“…As we have noted, only two complainants could muster the courage to come forward. There could have been several girl students who would have been victims of Dr.Ashwin Hebbar. Dr.Ashwin Hebbar, who is a teacher/Associate Professor and expected to act as Guru, guide and philosopher for the students, victimised them by sexually abusing and harassing them…”, the court opined about the aforesaid circumstances.

The Principal Secretary of the Medical Education Department,Mohammed Mohsin, passed an order in November 2025, reinstating the Doctor accused and transferring him temporarily to Haveri Institute of Medical Sciences.

The court noted that this decision was based on a recommendation in October by the Director of SIMS, Dr. Virupakshappa V, which highlighted the accused person's professional achievements and contributions without mentioning the incident of sexual harassment.

“…While Dr. Virupakshappa has praised Dr. Ashwin Hebbar and almost read out encomium in his favour, he has failed to mention about Dr. Ashwin Hebbar's past misconduct of similar nature and has also not mentioned the findings of the Internal Complaint Committee, lodging of the FIR, his arrest etc., but has recommended for reinstatement of such a doctor in the same institution by revoking his suspension order…”, the court had observed in its interim order on July 1 initially, after obtaining explanations from the bureaucrats.

Dr. Hebbar challenged his transfer in W.P. No. 35404/2025 before a Single Judge, who on February 9, 2026, stayed the temporary transfer on a technical ground that the transfer was not backed by a Board Resolution.

“…Extraordinary situations demand extraordinary solutions. We are at pain to note that the writ Court has also been insensitive while staying the transfer of Dr. Ashwin Hebbar without having any concern that how the students who had faced sexual harassment, humiliation and pain in the hands of Dr. Ashwin Hebbar would feel facing him every day in the institution….”, the court remarks further in the order.

The court had earlier directed the personal appearance of both the Principal Secretary and the Director of SIMS. On July 1, the court noted that Dr. Virupakshappa was present in person, but found no plausible explanation for his recommendation.

“…It appears that Dr.Ashwin Hebbar is a well-connected and powerful person. He got written several letters from the political persons as well as NGOs etc., for revocation of his suspension. Buckling down under pressure, the Principal Secretary asked the Director of SIMS to make a recommendation for revocation of the suspension of Dr.Ashwin Hebbar. The Director was ever obliged to write encomium for Dr.Ashwin Hebbar, without mentioning any word about his misconduct, past and present, in his letter…” the court added further.

Hence, the court directed the Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India directed to take appropriate action against Mr. Mohammed Mohsin, IAS. Accordingly, the State Government was directed to initiate departmental proceedings against Dr. Virupakshappa, Director of SIMS.

Citing the above reason, the court cancelled the revocation of Dr. Hebbar's suspension, and clarified that he would remain suspended pending completion of disciplinary enquiry

The court has also instructed that a copy of judgment be forwarded to NMC for taking appropriate action against Dr. Hebbar, including possible cancellation of his medical license

Before parting, the court also highlighted the importance of protecting victims:

“…The Director as well as the Principal Secretary, Department of Medical Education have been totally insensitive to the honour, dignity, humiliation, harassment and sexual abuse suffered by the students. They themselves have committed gross misconduct of protecting an accused who is facing the charges of sexually abusing and harassing his own students…”

The court has also directed that Dr. Hebbar shall remain attached with Haveri Institute of Medical Sciences during the pendency of disciplinary proceedings.

Case Title: Shimoga Institute of Medical Sciences v. State of Karnataka & Ors.

Case No: WA 675/2026 C/W WP 35404/2025 & WP 15057/2026

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 282

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