2 docs continue to work in KU despite Varsity Council’s orders

Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Feb 17: Despite clear orders from University Council of Kashmir University to keep appointment orders of two Medical Officers of its Health Centre in abeyance, they continue to work.
The former Vice Chancellor Professor Khursheed Andrabi appointed two Medical Officers in the Varsity Health Centre in gross violations of rules during his tenure when there was no post of Medical Officers vacant. The Health Centre has only two sanctioned posts of Medical Officers and with their appointed four officers are working on two posts.
The University Council, on the directions of the Governor NN Vohra, vide order No F Abeyance-MO GA/KU/17 dated Nov 7, 2017 asked the Varsity authorities to keep Dr Suraya’s and Dr Iqra’s appointments in abeyance. “Pursuant to the observations made by the University Council on Item No 27at its meeting held on 24.10.2017, and as recommended by the committee constituted for the purpose, the appointment orders dated 08-07-2015 and 16-05-2017 issued in favour of Dr Suraya Jan and Dr Iqra Mehraj as Medical Officers are kept in abeyance with immediate effect,” the order reads.
In January 2015, immediately after Professor Andrabi took over as the VC, University of Kashmir (KU) advertised various posts, including that of two Medical Officers (vide Advertisement Notice No. IX). The minimum qualification for the Medical Officer posts, according to the notice, was MBBS with five years work experience in a reputed Government recognized hospital.
The upper age limit for the post, like any other Government job, was maximum of 40 years. However, in violation of all norms and rules, the KU appointed one Dr Suraya Jan as Medical Officer, despite having crossed the upper age limit. According to the records submitted by Dr Suraya to the University authorities, her date of birth is 6-11-1969.
The appointment of Dr Suraya was challenged by another candidate Dr Iqra Mehraj in the court of law in 2015. Sources said as the case was going on, the KU made an out of court settlement with the aggrieved candidate, by offering her another post of Medical Officer in the KU.
Sources said that in 2017, the KU converted a Placement Officer post in one of the departments into a Medical Officer’s post to adjust Dr Iqra, daughter of Central University Kashmir’s VC, Prof Mehraj-ud-Din Mir. Dr Iqra was appointed on temporary basis as Medical Officer in the pay-band of Rs 9300-34800 without the post being advertised.

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