SIC asks SKIMS to elevate aggrieved doctor

The state information commission has asked the head of SKIMS to promote a doctor to the rank of associate professor, the status held up as his file was erroneously clubbed with that of another employee facing performance appraisal issues.  

After taking note of the case of Dr Hakeem Zubair Ashraf the SIC has issued directions to the Director of SKIMS to elevate him to the post of Associate Professor, Cardio Vascular Thoracic Surgery (CVTS) as recommended by the Apical Selection Committee of the tertiary care health institute.  

   

Dr Asraf was denied the promotion by SKIMS authorities because his case file was erroneously clubbed with that of another doctor who faced issues pertaining to his annual performance report (APR). 

Ashraf Mir, the state information commissioner while disposing of the case in January, said, “The present appeal is disposed of with a direction to Director, SKIMS to issue appropriate orders in relation to the promotion of the appellant to the post of Associate Professor … within a period of two weeks.”

“The Director SKIMS is directed to detach the file of the appellant from the same and issue necessary orders in the light of the recommendations of the Apical Selection Committee without any further delay,” the SIC order reads.  

Dr Ashraf had filed an RTI application with the Public Information Officer SKIMS, seeking information about reasons for denial of his elevation to the post of Associate Professor Cardiovascular Thoracic Surgery under AMPS and copies of the minutes of meeting of the Apical Committee, besides other relevant information.

But the PIO failed to provide the information to Dr Ashraf within the period specified in RTI Act. Consequently he escalated his appeal according to the provisions of the transparency law.

However, despite clear directions given by the First Appellate Authority, the PIO and the Administrative Officer (Policy) SKIMS, Soura failed to furnish the information, Dr Ashraf submitted before the Commission.

Following intervention by the SIC, SKIMS authorities submitted before Dr Ashraf was duly recommended by the Apical Selection Committee for promotion to the post of Associate Professor CVTS, SKIMS under AMP Scheme on 26-08-2017. 

But formal orders were not issued in the appellant’s favour as his file was clubbed with that of another employee whose case was stuck up due to certain issues relating to his APRs.

Registrar of the Commission has been directed to serve a show cause notice to Dr. Ghulam Nabi, Administrative Officer (Policy) at SKIMS, directing him to explain why penalties under section 17 of the J&K RTI Act, 2009 shall not be imposed upon him for not rendering necessary assistance to the PIO/HOD, Hospital Administration.

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