Sting op: Union threatens dharna if doc is suspended

A high-level delegation of Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) Union led by its General Secretary Dr Balwinder Kumar met Punjab Health Minister Madan Mohan Mittal on Monday and allegedly threatened that if Dr Kaushal is suspended they would sit on dharna every day for two hours at the concerned hospitals.

Punjab Director Health Services Dr J P Singh informed that the union brought to the notice of the Health minister key demands on various issues related to doctors in Punjab. He informed that the union urged Mittal that no action should be taken against Dr Sameer Kaushal,a medical officer in Sangrur District,and alleged that action against Kaushal was a personal vendetta. Mittal reportedly assured the union that he would get the matter investigated in a fair and transparent manner. Interestingly,PCMS had lauded the sting operation.

Sources said that Punjab Principal Secretary (Health),Vinni Mahajan had sent a file recommending suspension of Dr Kaushal to Mittal on August 31. The general practice is that any government employee,who remains in police custody for over 24 hours,is immediately suspended. However,Mittal has so far not ordered the suspension.

When contacted,Mittal said: “In such cases it is deemed to be automatic suspension. The formal orders can follow’’. When asked about the file recommending suspension,the minister said,“You tell me who told you the file is with me and that he has not been suspended.’’

Making Demands

Punjab Director Health Services Dr J P Singh informed that in the meeting of PCMS union and Mittal,the union also demanded that the practice of inspecting dispensaries by Tehsildars and Naib-Tehsildars must be curbed and should not be done by officers below the level of SDM’s. The Minister agreed in principle to this demand and assured them of necessary action. THE PCMS union also demanded that cases of 4-9-14 promotional scales must be re-examined on priority basis. Mittal has assured of necessary action and added that vacant posts of all posts for Senior Medical Officers would soon be filled. A meeting of the Departmental Promotion Committee has been scheduled for September 4 to review the promotions of Civil Surgeons,SMO’s and Medical Officers. Singh further stated that Mittal also assured the union that DPC’s would be held at regular intervals.