Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 7: The J&K government on April 5 appointed Dr Shafqat Khan, who was "awaiting orders of adjustment" in the Health and Medical Education Department, as Joint Resident Commissioner, New Delhi, vindicating an Early Times report that the medico had been lobbying for the post.
The government said Dr Khan will head the Special Cell (Migrants) to coordinate the matters relating to Migrants. In January this year, the Early Times had reported that "unwilling to work at government hospital as a middle-rung doctor as per his actual cadre", Khan had been lobbying for the lucrative post in the metropolis.
However, while the medico was hoping to get the post of the Junior Resident Commissioner, he has got even higher chair.
Though the government had planned to post him at some hospital in his home district of Baramulla district, Dr Khan was often seen camping in Jammu, allegedly lobbying in the corridors of power.
Officials said at least one minister, each from BJP and the PDP had been lobbying in his favour.
"Basically he had been serving personal interests of some high profile politicians including sitting ministers and thus they wanted to benefit him come what may as such a posting will meet their personal interests more," said a source in the General Administration Department.
Dr Khan, who was illegally elevated as the Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation, had been ousted unceremoniously from the influential post all of a sudden.
While he was asked to report back to his parent department, the Health and Medical Education Department, the official had been allegedly reluctant to work at any hospital. Senior officials said they were under constant pressure to issue orders of his elevation as the Joint Resident Commissioner. "Till now we had been resisting all such illegal moves being implemented in the name of 'in the interest of administration" pleading that such elevation will again draw criticism from the IAS and KAS lobby, but we were helpless this time," said an official privy to the development. Despite repeated attempts, Dr Khan couldn't be contacted for comments. |
