Early Times Report
Jammu, May 22: The new principal of the Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu has made a “mockery” of the system by adopting a flip-flop approach vis-à-vis handling sensitive administrative issues.
According to the details available with Early Times GMC Principal Dr Nasib Chand Digra has once again shown his “administrative immaturity” by first issuing an order and then withdrawing it. In the process he has defied the government order which was issued after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On March 28, 2020, Jammu and Kashmir Government issued an order No. 347 –(JK) HME stating: “Extraordinary situation has arisen due to the spread of COVID 19, a declared public health emergency. This order is being issued for engaging contractual appointment of faculty members and paramedical and nursing staff in Govt Medical Colleges, Srinagar and Jammu, who have superannuated from March 2018 and are likely to superannuate in next six months after the issuance of this order. With the terms and conditions that persons engaged on contractual basis as such shall not be assigned any administrative job.”
After the order was issued no faculty member came forward to join but nearly 12 people in the cadre of paramedical and nursing staff joined the duties.
The former GMC principal issued orders in favour of the paramedics strictly as per the terms and conditions mentioned in the government order. The ex-principal vide her office letter no. AHJ/2020/1989 dated 25/03/2020, wrote to Medical Superintendent GMCH and SMGS that no such official engaged should be given any administrative or supervisory work and directions of the government order should be followed in letter and spirit.
“A controversy emerged after the new Principal Dr Nasib Chand Digra took the charge. He issued an order which violated the government order.”
The order no. 260- AHJ of 2020 dated 14-05-2020 “undermined the delegated powers” of Medical Superintendent of GMC Jammu and Associated Hospital.
The order read: “Only matrons and assistant matrons of the respective associated hospitals of GMC Jammu are authorized and directed to make duty roster for nursing staff of the concerned hospital and they shall also ensure proper and effective utilization of the services of all the nursing staff Including retired contractual engages purely in th Issues orders, withdraws and show goes on
The order said, “The respective matrons/ assistant matrons are directed to maintain separate records and register of regular and contractual employees and provide feedback for their work performance.”
The order in a veiled warning to Medical Superintendents said, “Non-compliance shall be treated dereliction of official duties and will invite action under rules.”
The order stirred a Hornet’s Nest at GMC and the Associated Hospital as it was against the delegation of powers to Medical Superintendent and amounted to undermining their role.
“Prior to this controversial order the Medical Superintendents had lodged a protest against the undue inference in their work by a few people at the top,” sources said.
They said that when the new order was issued all Medical Superintendents apprised the higher ups about the delegation of powers to them according to the norms.
The said order, according to sources, was prepared by advisors of the new principal. “After it triggered a row the immature GMC Principal did another big blunder after taking advise of same advisors. He issued one more order.”
The order no. GMC/20/ 114 dated 16/05/2020 stated that the earlier order stands withdrawn. “The order was issued in a haste as no file noting and necessary routing and approval was done by the Principal before signing it. This order also defied the government order No. 347 –(JK) HME OF 2020 Dated 28-03,” sources added.
They said, “First of all there was no need to issue any such order when the former principal had issued necessary orders with clear directions. The new principal could have controlled the damage by issuing a corrigendum rather than withdrawn the order.”
Sources claimed that since the day new principal has taken the charge, he has issued many orders in a haste and then revoked these. “This reflects administrative immaturity. He seems in a hurry every time,” they added.
Due to controversies and tug of war between Medical Superintendents and Administrators many appointee who had come forward to play an active role during the pandemic have called it quits.
One of the senior paramedical staff members, who left the job said,
“It’s mere humiliation and disgrace the incumbent Principal has brought to us after superannuation and putting in more than 35 years of services to this institution.” | 