'Virgin' doesn't imply virginity, but unmarried status: IGIMS clarifies on marital status form

Following the furore over Patna's Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) marital status declaration form, asking if the person is a "bachelor/widower/virgin", college medical superintendent Manish Mandal clarified the same saying the term 'virgin' does not have anything to do with virginity but to marital status.

Speaking to ANI, Mandal said IGIMS follows the rules and regulations of AIIMS (All India Institutes of Medical Sciences), which follows the Central Services' (CCS) rules.

"IGIMS follows the rules and regulations of AIIMS which follows the Central Services' rules. The format has imbibed the terms married, widower and virgin. The term 'virgin' doesn't relate to the aspect of virginity but to unmarried," Mandal added.

However, in the form 'married' status was not mentioned.

Earlier today, it was reported that IGIMS has asked its employees to declare their virginity and number of wives in a marital status declaration form.

Out of three such declarations, one reads as: "That I am bachelor/widower/virgin."

Mandal further said, "If an employee joins the government services and passes away then who would be his/ her claimant? The literal meaning of virgin is a bachelor." These rules are made by the government only and they have the authority to change it. This rule is not formed by IGIMS or the state but the constitution."

"If they change it, we will also change," he added.