Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 11: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court today stayed the transfer order of Health Officer of Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Dr Shafkat Majeed Khan and directed the authorities to allow him to work as Health Officer of the Corporation.
Khan was transferred prematurely by the Government following intense pressure from Food processing companies whose products were found adulterated and unsafe for human consumption.
Justice MH Attar after hearing the counsel for petitioner advocate M A Qayoom on behalf of the petitioner stayed Khan’s transfer (Government order NO.276-HME of 2014 dated:-28.5.2014 issued by Commissioner Secretary to Government H&ME). The HC directed the Government to allow him to work as health officer.
Court also issued notice to Health Minister Taj Mohi-ud-din, Commissioner Secretary to Government Health and Medical Education, Deputy Secretary to Government Health and Medical Education, Commissioner SMC, and Director Health Services for filing their response to the writ petition.
Khan was posted on deputation basis as health officer in SMC and his counsel argued that his deputation was to be treated as 3 years in the first instance, but was transferred prematurely by Commissioner Secretary at the behest of Health Minister.
Advocate Qayoom further argued that his transfer was ordered only at the behest of Health Minister. “After taking the charge of Health Minister in 2014 the petitioner was told in a meeting held on Feb, 2014 that he should not venture into the activities of taking samples of food products, as it was not Europe and expecting high quality of food products and threatened the petitioner of removing from the post of Health officer”, Qayoom argued before the court.
Khan besides working as Health officer was also performing the duties of designated Officer, Food Safety and Standard Act. While performing his duties petitioner recently took samples of Saunf Powder from Kanwal Agro Industries and Khyber Agro Industries which were found adulterated after analysis from Cental Laboratory of Kolkotta.
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