A legal dispute between Saifee Hospital and a trainee doctor has reached the Bombay High Court, with the hospital seeking Rs 125 crore in damages over social media posts it claims harmed its reputation. The case has been filed by the Saifee Hospital Trust against Dr Asiya Khan Luqman, a first-year DNB General Surgery trainee who joined the hospital in February 2026. The hospital has alleged that she made serious accusations against the institution and senior doctors through social media. The posts reportedly raised concerns about long working hours, ragging, mental harassment and alleged mistreatment of resident doctors, with some posts also tagging police authorities, including the Mumbai Police.
According to the hospital's case, disagreements arose over the trainee's attendance, leave and conduct during her training. The trust has alleged that she was absent without authorisation on several occasions and that this affected departmental work and patient-related responsibilities. The hospital has also claimed that warnings were issued to her and that the matter was brought to the attention of the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS).
The dispute subsequently involved the hospital's grievance redressal mechanism, where the trust said the trainee was given an opportunity to present her side. The hospital has maintained that resident doctors are required to work according to institutional requirements because healthcare services operate around the clock. It has alleged that the subsequent social media posts went beyond workplace grievances and damaged its reputation, patient confidence and ability to attract medical trainees.
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The trainee, through her lawyer Advocate Satyam Singh, has disputed the hospital's allegations. Her legal team has argued that a resident doctor has the right to raise concerns about working conditions and approach appropriate authorities regarding such issues. The trainee has also maintained that she wants to continue her DNB training and complete the course without further conflict.
The matter came before Justice Arif Doctor of the Bombay High Court, which directed the trainee not to publish further allegedly defamatory material concerning the hospital on social media while the case remains pending. The hospital's Rs 125 crore damages claim will be considered as the legal proceedings continue. The allegations and counterclaims made by both sides remain subject to the court's final determination.
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