SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Oct 21: The Jharkhand Health Minister Banna Gupta’s stay on the transfer order of a medical officer in Pakur district has triggered controversy.
The medical officer, Dr Amit Kumar, posted at Sadar Hospital Pakur was transferred to Sadar Hospital Garhwa on July 31. But Civil Surgeon Dr Mantu Tekriwal deployed him at Sadar Hospital again after 21 days of relieving him.
The civil surgeon, in his notification, has said that on the directive of the health minister ( Banna Gupta) and Rajmahal MP ( Vijay Kumar Hansda of JMM) transfer of medical officer Dr Amit Kumar has been postponed.
As per the notification of the state government issued on July 31, over 300 medical officers and civil surgeons across the state, including nine doctors of Pakur were transferred. Prabhunath Sharma, undersecretary of the state government, who issued a notification also directed all the transferred medical officers to join at the designated place by August 14.
Pakur Civil Surgeon (CS) Dr Mantu Tekriwal as per the notification relieved all the nine doctors, including Dr Amit Kumar on August 11 so that they could join at their designated places. But one month later ( September 11) he deployed Dr Amit Kumar on duty in Sadar Hospital after relieving him.
The action of the civil surgeon triggered protests from the medical fraternity across the state.
Doctors of Pakur have pointed out that after the mass transfer notification on July 31 the state government (under secretary Prabhunath Sharma) cancelled the transfer of four medical officersm Dr Sheikh Md Tazuddin ( from Giridih to Dhanbad), Dr Ved Prakash ( from Giridih to Chatra), Dr Sanjay Kumar ( from Giridih to Dhanbad) and Dr Dheeraj Kumar ( from Giridih to Hazaribagh) in which name of Dr Amit Kumar was not included.
When Dr Amit Kumar was relieved on August 11, he was deployed at Sadar Hospital one month later without any notification from the state government.
A medical officer of Pakur said that the health minister can transfer and post any doctor at any health centre/ hospital across the state but special privilege that has been given to Dr Amit Kumar was never seen in 23 years of the state.
