MS takes over amidst controversy

Marwaha was appointed Medical Superintendent on May 15 while S. S. Sidhu, head of Anatomy Department in the Government Medical College, was already functioning as Medical Superintendent since July 1997. There was an impasse in the hospital as it had two Medical Superintendents till yesterday. While Sidhu functioned as Medical Superintendent and all files were put up before him, Marwaha was coming to hospital regularly but sitting in the office of the Deputy Medical Superintendent as he had no office.

According to sources in the Health Department, the 1,200-bed Rajindra Hospital is attached to the Government Medical College and that makes it a teaching hospital. This implies that the hospital is under the Department of Research and Medical Education which has a separate secretary and separate Minister.

Since 1988, senior teachers of the medical college have held this post except from July 15, 1992 to April 30, 1994 when a senior doctor of the PCMS held this post.

However, Marwaha when contacted by ENS today, said that he had formally taken over as MS today as Sidhu stood relieved following the orders issued by the principal secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, who is currently looking after the Department of Research and Medical Education also, as the secretary in the department is on leave.