Delhi L-G suspends top health official, she says order violates norms
An official from the state health department claimed she was not issuing a tender approved by the health minister for outsourcing lab services.
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Bagga has called the suspension arbitrary and alleged it was taken to potentially benefit a certain political party in the Delhi polls. (File)Delhi L-G V K Saxena Tuesday ordered the suspension of Vandana Bagga, Director of the Family Welfare Department who also holds additional charge of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). In response, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said he was not intimated by any official nor has the Health Secretary discussed this with him. The L-G office remained unavailable for comment on the suspension.
The order, issued by Vigilance Special Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar Bisht, said a disciplinary enquiry has also been contemplated against the DGHS. Bagga, in turn, has called the suspension arbitrary and alleged it was taken to potentially benefit a certain political party in the Delhi polls.
An official from the state health department claimed she was not issuing a tender approved by the health minister for outsourcing lab services and not finalising another tender for procurement of drugs, which was being followed up by the CM and minister every day. Hence, she has been suspended, the official claimed.
In file notings prepared for the suspension of the DGHS, state health department officials stated that instead of performing her role as HOD, she has become a stumbling block for every scheme of the department.
Bharadwaj, however, alleged that a slew of corruption allegations was levelled by Bagga with regard to the two tenders. “She had alleged in the presence of many senior officers and MS/MDs hospitals that the Health Secretary and Special Secretary Health had pressured her to make the tender amount Rs 150 crore instead of a smaller amount. It is common knowledge that some big firms were being favoured by jacking up the tender amount. In earlier tenders of CPA, this tender amount used to be Rs 20-30 crore,” he alleged.
Bagga, meanwhile, has written to the Election Commission of India, the Chief Electoral Officer, the State Health Minister, the Delhi Chief Minister, and other officials on her suspension. She said health is a state subject and according to the law, the L-G is bound to act as per Section 42 Government of NCT of Delhi Act, 1991 — which is with the aid and advice of the minister of health or the council of ministers including chief minister of the government of Delhi.
“It is specifically submitted that the health minister or the chief minister has not issued any advisory to the L-G office for my suspension,” she added.
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