“Another manages to stay in GMC since 1990”
Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Mar 22: Defying orders of her superiors as well as court, an Assistant Matron (non-gazetted employee) who is at present Incharge Matron, is running an independent office in Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu and its associated hospitals and also recommending release of salary and 2 ½ days of salary of Nursing staff though she has no such powers.
According to official sources, in the year 2013 the then Minister for Medical Education in consultation with all Head of the Departments (HoDs) decided that in order to ensure effective management for patient care, the subordinate staff including paramedical staff, nurses, nursing orderlies, class IV employees working in different wards/labs/theatres/ sections/units shall remain under the control of the concerned HoD and attendance/leave of the employees shall be marked by him.
Accordingly, the then Principal GMC Jammu issued an order dated 12-11-2013 stating that all the paramedical staff including nursing staff, nursing orderlies, class IV employees and Safaiwalas shall be kept at the disposal of all the concerned Head of the Departments (HoDs) but instead of following the order the subordinate staff challenged it in J&K High Court vide SWP NO 2654/2013 and sought quashing of the order.
“Even though the court dismissed the writ petition of the subordinate staff, terming it without any merit, the subordinate staff in GMC Jammu never followed the court order while as the same has been implemented in GMC Srinagar,” the sources said, adding that all the subordinate staff of GMC Jammu is still marking their attendance in Matron Office, which is being run by Incharge Matron, Inderjeet Kour, who is a non-gazetted employee.
Sources further informed Excelsior that the Incharge Matron without any certification or powers is recommending release of salary and 2 ½ days of salary of all paramedical staff including nurses, Female Multipurpose Health Workers and class IV staff.
They further informed that another Assistant Matron, Madhu Bala is continuously working in GMC Jammu for last more than 28 years (since 12-06-1990), which has been confirmed by the Hospital administration in response to an RTI application. They said it is shocking that Madhu Bala is never transferred during this period even though many complaints were filed against her.
“Moreover, she also visited abroad (Australia) in the year 2016 without seeking permission from Government, which is required under rules,” sources said, adding, besides she went on 42 days earned leave with effect from January 8, 2018 that too which was not sanctioned at that time. On the top of that, they said Madhu Bala managed to get release of 2 and ½ days salary and regular salary during this period in connivance with concerned clerk, Umesh Singh, against whom the enquiry is already underway.
They said this is just the tip of an iceberg and if a thorough enquiry is conducted, a major scam may be surfaced related to release of 2 and half days salary.
When contacted, Principal GMC Jammu Dr Sunanda Raina failed to give any satisfactory reply on wrong doings of Incharge Matron Surinder Kour and Assistant Matron Madhu Bala. However, on the clerk Umesh Singh, she said that an enquiry is being conducted how he released salary and 2 and ½ days salary to Madhu Bala for the period on which she was on leave.
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