Srinagar, Sep 22: In a bizarre instance of its kind, the selection of paramedics for Hajj-2011 clearly seems to have become a political affair in Jammu and Kashmir where officials for the annual medical mission are selected on the basis of political connections, in absolute violation of rules. Here is how.
Official documents with Greater Kashmir reveal how a male nurse from central Kashmir’s Budgam district has figured in this year’s list of selected paramedical staff for Hajj, even as the Directorate of Health Services [DHSK] had not even recommended his name.
The male nurse from Tehsil Chadoora, who has been to the mission five times since 2001, has been selected by the Ministry of External Affairs in brazen violation of its own rules which say the “applicants who have been deputed thrice or more in the past are not eligible for temporary deputation of doctors and paramedical staff.”
In the past, the official has gone on the Hajj mission five times: [2-2-2001 to 3-4-2001; 31-12-2001 to 2-1-2002; 1-12-2003 to 1-3-2004; 3-11-2007 to 17-1-2008; 1-10-2009 to 22-12-2009]. The facts are substantiated by his service particulars, copies of which are with Greater Kashmir.
Another pharmacist from Sopore has already gone thrice so far and has still been recommended by the DHSK. The official who works as Supervisory Pharmacist at District Tuberculosis Centre Sopore has blatantly lied that he has been on the mission just “once in 2009.”
While it is unclear as to how the Ministry—where all previous records of paramedics are available—allowed the two officials to go in contravention of rules, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has come in the line of criticism for recommending officials illegally.

WAS TOO LATE TO ACT: DHS KASHMIR
The Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Saleem-ur-Rehman, minces no words in acknowledging that the two persons have been selected in violation of rules. “They were recommended because they had concealed the facts. They seem to have developed their own contacts everywhere which leads to their selection. But their selection is absolutely wrong,” he told Greater Kashmir.
Asked why the selections were not terminated, Saleem-ur-Rehman said “it was too late to do it. It had become a fait accompli. It was too late to act. If they had not gone, nobody would have.”
About the recommendation of the pharmacist, Saleem-ur-Rehman said “the recommendations had gone before my joining as the Director Health Services. But I must assure you that from now onwards, nobody would be allowed to go in violation of rules. We won’t relieve the officials unless they are selected properly and in accordance with the norms.”
According to highly placed sources in the DHSK, the two officials had to face a huge embarrassment in the office of DHSK recently after it surfaced that they had been selected in violation of rules.
“The Government must probe how they were selected. There seems to be the involvement of politicians and ministers in the selections which calls for a thorough inquiry by the Chief Minister,” they said. “How can nurses or pharmacists otherwise exert so much of influence and ensure their selection. Further, it is time to inquire why they are adamant to go again and again on the mission. There can be a business-angle to the story.”
According to sources, going on the medical mission has exemplary benefits. This includes monetary benefits like foreign allowances nearly thrice the salary of a person in his parent organization, free air ticket and quality accommodation. This is besides release of their regular salary in the parent department.
Interestingly, the figuring of two paramedics in the list is against a note of the Ministry of External Affairs which says that “no government servant shall bring or attempt to bring any political or outside influence to bear upon any superior authority to further his interests in respect of matters pertaining to his service under Government. The Ministry may initiate disciplinary proceedings against such applicants who violate the clause.”

Lastupdate on : Thu, 22 Sep 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 23 Sep 2011 00:00:00 IST