Srinagar, Aug 2: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Thursday said that State Vigilance Organization and State Accountability Commission would be tasked to fix the responsibility of GB Pant Hospital mess and subsequent infant deaths.
“I am yet to receive a copy of the probe report (submitted by Director SKIMS). But I assure that action will be taken against the guilty once the investigative agencies fix the responsibility. I will send the copies of this report to the State Vigilance Organization and Accountability Commission for that. I believe this report needs to form (the basis of) inquiry by both the agencies,” Omar told a New Delhi-based television channel.
The Chief Minister said that SVC and SAC had been set up to put an end to corruption at various levels. “No matter what level. Even the office of Chief Minister is not outside the ambit of the Accountability Commission,” he said.
In May this year, the state government ordered an inquiry by Director SKIMS Dr Showkat Zargar to probe the high number of infant deaths at the G B Pant Hospital here, Valley’s only pediatric hospital.
More than 500 infants have died this year at the hospital, which led to a public outcry. The then Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr Javid Chowdhary was attached pending an inquiry.
The Chief Minister said he has not absolved anyone of the responsibility for the situation that the hospital was in.
“There is no denying that failure at multiple levels, right from the hospital to the Secretariat, resulted in the situation reaching wherein I myself had to step in, and between myself and officers with me, we put in place certain corrective measures wherein I believe situation has been addressed to large extent. But that doesn’t remove the fact that it had been allowed to deteriorate to such extent,” he said.
He further said the political leadership should take responsibility for the infant deaths. “Nobody is above responsibility. Where I have felt that in my own conduct that I have failed, I have stood up and taken responsibility,” he said.
Replying to a query why Dr Javid Chowdhary was appointed as Medical Superintendent despite there being certain complaints against him in the past, Omar said that is for Medical Education Minister to answer.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 2 Aug 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 2 Aug 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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