SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Oct 11: The State government has initiated action against six medical officers including a retired civil surgeon (CS) for being absent from their duty for a long time.
The notice has been served to:
- Dr Farhana (Gynaecology and obstetrics expert, Giridih Sadar Hospital)
- Dr Rinku Kumari Singh (medical officer of Chandankyari CHC Bokaro)
- Dr Iffat Rasul (medical officer PHC Medhna of Garhwa district)
- Dr Jyoti Kujur (medical officer Jura Bharno PHC Gumla)
- Dr Prabhu Sahay Linda (medical officer, Godda Sadar Hospital)
- Dr Mahveer Prasad Gopalika (former civil surgeon of Jamtara)
Joint secretary Vidyanand Sharma Pankaj has issued a public notice to all six medical officers, giving them a last chance for placing their reply on the charges on different dates. According to the notice, if medical officers fail to appear on the scheduled date, the government would initiate action.
As per the health department charges, Dr Farhana is absent from her duty since August 3, 2021. She has been asked to show cause for her absence by October 20, 2022.
Similarly, Dr Rinku Kumari Singh is absent since November 20, 2015. The health department has warned her of dismissal from service and to recommend the National Medical Council (NMC) and State Medical Council (SMC) for cancellation of practice registration under Jharkhand Government Service Regulation 2016 and under the 2002 National Medical Council Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics Regulations if she fails to reply by October 15.
Dr Iffat Rasul joined her service at Garhwa on January 6, 2020, and went away the next day (January 7) without taking a leave. Thereafter, she did not turn up.
Dr Jyoti Kujur of Gumla has been absent since March 13, 2020. She has been asked to reply by October 20, 2022.
Dr Prabhu Sahay Linda is also facing a charge of absence from duty.
Meanwhile, Dr Mahaveer Prasad Gopalika is facing disciplinary action over bribery charges. Sources in the health department said he was caught by the CBI while taking a bribe of Rs 10,000 from a medical officer for getting his held-up salary released.
A senior officer of the health department said that in 2017, Dr Mahaveer Prasad Gopalika was the civil surgeon of Jamtara district and had stayed at the circuit house. He demanded Rs 10,000 from the medical officer Dr Rajdeo Prasad for lifting the embargo on salary payment. Dr Rajdeo reportedly recorded his bribe demand and complained to the CBI. The CBI team laid the net and caught him in the circuit house while accepting the bribe from Dr Rajdeo.
