Srinagar, Jul 10 : The health authorities have asked the Incharge Medical Superintendent Pulwama for explaining his position to the department about submitting “misleading and biased” information to the Directorate about his wife, who is also a doctor, posted in the same hospital for 18 years.
Pertainally, Kashmir Despatch had exclusively carried this news report on 29 June titled “Brazen nepotism plagues Health Department Kashmir”.
A day after the story was published in Kashmir Despatch authoritative sources revealed that Governor’s office took strong notice of this news report and asked the administrative department of health and medical education to take immediate action.
Following this directive an order ( No. HD/ Gaz/ Gen/ 16/2019) issued today by the health and medical education department today has asked Incharge MS DH Pulwama, Dr Abdul Rashid Parra, to explain his position within 10 days or face disciplinary action.
Dr Rashid Parra, who is incharge of DH Pulwama from last three years, was asked by the Directorate of Health Services on the directions of the Administration department to file facts about the longest staying gynecologist in the hospital as the department has posted a new gynecologist there.
However, as the per the order, the Incharge MS “concealed the facts and submitted misleading information to the Directorate by deliberately omitting” the name of his wife [Dr Hafeeza Akhtar] who is posted in the hospital since 9/2011, while as Dr Shaheena who has been recommend for transfer is posted in the hospital from 2015 , the order issued by the administrative department of health and medical education reads.
Officials in the health department said that a new gynecologist was posted in the hospital this year and the incharge MS was asked to submit details of the longest serving gynecologist, who is his wife, to the Directorate, for transfer.
But the incharge MS Dr Parra misled the department and submitted name of another gynecologist, Dr Shaheena, while concealing his wife’s name, who is posted in the hospital from 18 years.
Officials said that acting on the media reports which had reported the factual information and verifying the reports, the administrative department took cognisance of the matter and asked the incharge MS to explain his position.
“Your misrepresentation of the facts/ recommendations have been viewed seriously by the administrative department as the action taken by the administrative department on your biased report has been criticised in the media, landing the department in embarrassment and awkward position,” the order reads.
“You are report is prima-facie biased and the same is unbecoming of a government servant. As such you are directed to explain your position on the issue within a period of 10 days from issuance of this notice (today), failing which the Government shall be constrained to take disciplinary action against your under rules,” the orders reads.
In another order, the administrative has transferred Dr Hafeeza Akhtar to District Hospital Ganderbal “with immediate effect” and posted Dr Shaheena back to DH Pulwama.
Officials sources said the incharge MS will face action for misleading the department and will be moved out of his posting and the hospital will get a new medical superintendent as per merit and rules.
