Srinagar, Mar 27: What could be a tip of the iceberg, the administration of the Government Medical College Srinagar and its associated SMHS Hospital has turned down at least 22 appointments made in a brazen violation of the recruitment rules and also without the approval of the state government.  The appointments, done under the Hospital Development Fund (HDF) in February this year, were made at a meeting chaired by the Member of Legislative Assembly from Haba Kadal Constituency, here.
 Documents available with Greater Kashmir reveal that 22 “illegal, extra-constitutional and unauthorized” appointments had been made by a former medical superintendent of SMHS Hospital vide Order No. PA/4068 Dated: 21-2-2011.
 The appointments were made in complete violation and disregard of the Government Order No. 954 HME of 2000 Dated: 21-12-2000 and Government Order No. 150-HME of 2005 Dated: 15-3-2005, which make it clear that the HDF has no scope for employing or engaging people. The fund, according to the orders, is meant for minor repairs and sanitation of the hospitals in case of “any exigency or emergency.” The Medical Superintendents are authorized to operate the fund in consultation with at least two MLAs/MLCs in case of the SMHS hospital in Srinagar and SMGS hospital in Jammu, while as the other hospitals need the approval of at least 1 MLA/MLC to operate the HDF.
 In the case under question, an inquiry has found that the former Medical Superintendent did not seek the approval of the government or even the GMC Principal Dr Shahida Mir. Instead, the MS conducted a meeting with some of the faculty members in presence of the MLA Habakadal on 20-1-2011 vide communication no PA/4068 and engaged 22 persons on HDF on the pretext of “manning hospital gates and stretchers”— something which is not permissible under rules. The appointment of the 22 persons has been cancelled vide Order No. 6841-45 Dated: 23-3-2011.
 The cost of these appointments would have been Rs 6 to 7 lakh annually, which was to be drawn from the HDF—the money paid by poor patients on account of taking admit cards at the hospitals or fee for medical examinations.
 According to the SMHS sources, there was no need to hire people as ‘security guards’ because the state government is already paying a private security agency an amount of Rs 40 lakh per year to man the hospital gates. The security agency has already deployed more than 120 personnel who are being paid through M/S Sparrow Securities Pvt Limited.
 The documents reveal that the associated hospitals of GMC Srinagar have already 90 persons employed under HDF for which it spends Rs 32 lakh a year. The state government has, here, given a one-time relaxation to engage personnel by debt to HDF vide order communication no. MEGAZ/89/2006. The communication from the Health and Medical Education Department to the GMC Principal orders formation of a committee to engage 33 persons by debt to the HDF for use in Anesthesia, Surgery, Gynae and Blood Bank wings.
 These 33 persons, according to the documents, were engaged after the positions were duly advertised in local media, following which a written test and an interview was also conducted.
 The sources said the other appointments under HDF, other than the approved ones, are under the scanner of the Vigilance Organization and the Crime Branch. An ex-GMC principal, they said, is facing charges of having made these appointments under HDF in almost all the GMC associated hospitals.
 According to the documents, on the day of his superannuation, the ex-GMC principal appointed nine persons on HDF in the SMHS hospital vide order no. Att-9-GMCS-3911-22 Dated: 28-2-2009. But, the incumbent principal refused to allow them to join and disengaged them with immediate effect.
 According to the medicos, it was a matter of concern as to why the MLAs or MLCs were recommending the appointees, who mostly happen to be the workers of their political parties.
 “In other hospitals also, such engagements are made on the recommendation of a MLA or any advisor to the state government. This is setting a bad precedent and also hampering the smooth functioning of the hospitals where you require professional people and not the party workers,” said a medico, insisting not to named. “The government must order an inquiry into the HDF recruitments so that the huge loss to the exchequer is saved. Also the posts must be properly advertised and funds genuinely utilized.”

Lastupdate on : Sun, 27 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 27 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
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