Resolution to take back HO

SURAT, AUG 3: The standing committee of the Surat Municipal Corporation SMC has sent a resolution to Municipal Commissioner G P Mohapat...

SURAT, AUG 3: The standing committee of the Surat Municipal Corporation SMC has sent a resolution to Municipal Commissioner G P Mohapatra, asking him to formally reinstate Health Officer Dr R P Sinha.

Former civic chief S Jagadeesan had suspended Dr Sinha 8212; who was also in-charge Deputy Commissioner Health and Hospitals 8212; last year on the charges on financial irregularities.

Talking to reporters, Mohapatra admitted to have received the resolution, but said, 8220;I am yet to make up my mind and still studying the file.8221; Though the standing committee resolution has to be implemented, Mohapatra said, he still had to see to it that the reinstatement did not affect the enquiry against Sinha.

Other aspect of the resolution to be examined was if the reinstatement at this juncture violated the model code of conduct, he added.

Meanwhile, Bhupendra Solanki, the lone Congress councillor, criticised the standing committee8217;s move.

In a statement, Solanki said that Sinha should not be reinstated as the enquiry committee was yet to absolve him of the charges.

Alleging that Sinha was reinstated under the 8220;the RSS pressure8221;, Solanki questioned the motive of the ruling BJP. 8220;Why do not they reinstate scores of other suspended employees,8221; he questioned.

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Alleging that the elected wing had violated the model code of conduct, Solanki also submitted written complaints regarding the same to the municipal commissioner and Urban Secretary, Rumour has it that Sinha will soon be enjoying his earlier position of the In-charge Deputy Commissioner Hamp;H too. Though after Sinha8217;s suspension, the State government had appointed Dr I C Patel in his place, he is still on a probation which would be over by this month. Chances, claim sources, are that Dr Patel may not be confirmed as the RSS lobby was against him. Last year, after suspending Sinha, the then standing committee had ordered an inquiry against him. The two-member enquiry committee 8212; one member who later refused to be part of the team 8212; was asked to submit the report within three months.

However, even eight months after the standing committee endorsed the suspension order, the committee had not started investigating the case.

Though the standing committee, on Monday, passed a resolution to reinstate Dr Sinha, decided to continue the enquiry.