Srinagar, Aug 22: In connection with a theft of hospital development funds, the Health and Medical Education (H&ME) department terminated three officials on Tuesday, among them the former medical superintendent of District Hospital Kulgam.
A two-person committee has been established to investigate the situation and provide a report within 15 days.
The order stated: “The Officials are, hereby, placed under suspension with immediate effect pending probe into the behaviour relating to misappropriation of Hospital Development money in District Hospital, Kulgam.Dr. Afsana Banoo, the former medical superintendent of the district hospital in Kulgam, Mohammad Ashraf, the former senior assistant, and Mohammad Shafi, the senior assistant, have all been suspended from their positions.
“Additionally, it is mandated that they stay employed by the Directorate of Health Services in Kashmir for the duration of the suspension, and that he submits a monthly report on their biometric attendance to the Department of Health and Medical Education.The instruction also specifies that Mudasir DEIC Manager, District Hospital, Kulgam, be immediately attached to the office of the Mission Director, National Health Mission, J&K (on a contractual basis).
In a separate order, it is stated that “Sanction is hereby accorded to the constitution of a two-member enquiry committee, comprising of the following Officers to enquire into the embezzlement of hospital Development funds of District Hospital, Kulgam while taking into account, the preliminary enquiry as conducted by the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir as well as all other connected documents/evidence.”Dr. Yash Pal Sharma, Director Coordination, New Government Medical Colleges, J&K, and Muzaffar Ahmad Rather, Chief Account Officer, Government Medical College, Anantnag, are the members of the committee as per the order.
The directive states that the inquiry committee must provide its report and explicit recommendations to the Health and Medical Education Department within fifteen (15) days of when it was issued.Notably, a private security guard for the district hospital in Kulgam was detained a few days ago on suspicion of stealing Rs 33 lakhs from the Medical Superintendent district hospital Kulgam’s official account.
While more investigation is being done, he was also detained, and the money was also seized.
