Gopalganj: A nursing college principal in Bihar has been ordered to explain herself after issuing a controversial directive warning students that their admission would be cancelled if they married during their studies.
The notice, reportedly displayed on April 14 at a General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) school on the campus of Hathua sub-divisional hospital in Gopalganj district, stated that marriage during the academic session was prohibited. It warned that any student who married would have her enrolment cancelled with immediate effect and would be “solely responsible” for the consequences.
The directive quickly circulated on social media, drawing criticism and prompting intervention from local authorities.
Principal Mansi Singh defended the notice, saying it was based on existing departmental requirements. According to her, students are asked to sign a declaration at the time of admission stating they will not marry during the three-year course. She added that the restriction applied to students enrolled in both Auxiliary Nursing Midwifery (ANM) and GNM programmes.
However, the district administration has since moved to overturn the order. Civil surgeon Dr Virendra Prasad said the directive had been revoked and that Singh had been asked to provide an explanation within 12 hours. Failure to respond satisfactorily could result in departmental action, he said.
Gopalganj district magistrate Pawan Kumar Sinha has also taken cognisance of the issue, forming an inquiry team led by the civil surgeon to investigate the circumstances under which the notice was issued.
