| Charged with coercion, criminal nexus, tainted doctor reinstated at same posting | | | Avinash Azad
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Feb 4: Ousted after he was found coercing patients to get their tests conducted from selective laboratories, Casualty Medical Officer, at emergency wing of GMCH, Dr Sauqib Shafi was reinstalled at same post today.
Dr Shafi was transferred at Super Specialty Hospital, Jammu when a technician of a private diagnostic centre was caught while carrying the blood sample of a patient outside the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) premises on July 25, 2014. The preliminary police inquiries had hinted at an alleged nexus between a doctor and the owner of the diagnostic centre.
"However, on the basis of departmental enquiry, the doctor on Wednesday was posted at same place by the Principal GMCH", sources said, adding that it seems the administration instead of punishing such elements was encouraging them.
They further said that the whole nexus was allegedly being run in various wards including emergency wing of GMCH. "At that time Principal, Dr Ghanshyam Dev Gupta initiated departmental action against Dr Sauqib. The medical superintendent of the hospital, had also written to Station House Officer (SHO) of concerned police station, seeking an enquiry into the matter", sources maintained, adding that astonishingly, without police's enquiry, the decision to re-instate the doctor at same place was taken.
Earlier, Dr Sauqib was transferred to the GMCH Jammu in violation of the Government transfer policy. According to the Government order number 132-HME of 2014, dated 4/3/2014, Dr. Sauqib Shafi, resident of near Police Station Shopian, district Shopian Kashmir was appointed as Medical Officer in the pay scale of Rs. 9300-34800 with a pay grade of Rs. 5400.
"Enjoying the patronage of some bureaucrats and a former minister, Dr. Sauqib was among 767 medical officers appointed on regular-temporary basis by J&K Health and Family Welfare department and was asked to report to Director Health Services Kashmir or Jammu", they said and added, "As per the order, it has clearly been mentioned that all the appointees would be on probation period of two years and were supposed to report in their respective divisions. They were asked to remain at the first place of posting for atleast two years, as per the transfer policy." As per another order number 105/AHJ of 2014 dated, 30-06-2014, the Medical Officer got himself transferred to Medical College Jammu, and posted as Casualty Medical Officer (CMO).
When contacted, Principal GMCH, Dr Ghanysham Dev Gupta admitted that Dr Shafi has been transferred here at emergency. "Departmental enquiry committee found nothing objectionable against him, following his representation the Doctor was shifted to emergency", he said. |
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