SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, August 1: Outgoing Superintendent Dr AK Barnbal of Shahid Nirmal Mahto Medical College and Hospital (SNMMCH) Dhanbad today went on leave without handing over the charge to newly appointed superintendent Dr Anil Kumar.
The state government on Monday issued a notification shifting Dr Barnbal to the surgery department of Phulo Jhano Medical College Hospital (PJMCH) Dumka. Dr Anil Kumar, associate professor, has been given additional charge of superintendent in his place.
When Dr Anil Kumar reached the hospital today for taking over the charge he was unofficially informed that Dr Barnbal has gone on leave.
“I would wait and seek a directive from the health department and the Deputy Commissioner (DC) over taking charge as per notification of the state health department,” said Dr Kumar.
However, Dr SK Singh, principal of Sheikh Bhikhari Medical College Hospital Hazaribag cum director of medical education of the health department said that there is no technical hurdle for Dr Anil Kumar in taking unilateral charge of superintendent after the notification.
“In such a situation, Dr Kumar would takeover the charge unilaterally and the principal of the college would make countersign on it,” said Dr SK Singh.
Sources in the medical college said that Dr Barnbal has sent his leave application directly to the state headquarters as he used to do while being superintendent.
But a former principal of the medical college said that the moment the transfer order notification was issued he was left merely a teacher in the institution. Since he proceeded on leave after the transfer notification, he should have sent an application to the principal of the college.
The staff of the superintendent’s office said there is no leave application of Dr Barnbal.
When contacted, SNMMCH principal Dr Jyotiranjan Prasad said he had no information about Dr Barnbal’s leave application. “I would say on it only after checking my files,” he said.
