DHSK notes 2274 illegal appointments, seeks details

‘These were already detected by Audit in 2008’

Fayaz Bukhari

Srinagar, Feb 4: Authorities have noted 2274 illegal appointments in the Health Department across Kashmir even as more number of such appointments have been reported from Bandipora, Budgam and Ganderbal districts.
However, these illegal and fake appointments were detected over a decade back by the audit and some of them established by then State Vigilance Organization (SVO) later Health Department committees formed to look into them found only 133 as illegal and those employees were immediately removed but they moved to the High Court.
In this regard, the Deputy Director, Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir (DHSK) has written a letter to the Medical Superintendent of JLNM Hospital, Srinagar as well as the Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) of Srinagar, Ganderbal, Budgam, Baramulla, Kulgam, Shopian, Pulwama, Kupwara, Bandipora and Anantnag.
In the letter-which has been marked as most urgent-the DHSK has sought details of the illegal appointees from Chief Medical Officers.
“It is impressed upon you to ensure that the requisite information, complete in all respects in respect of 2274 illegal appointments as reported by the audit and inspection department along with all other illegal appointments especially reported from Block Beerwah of District Budgam, and Bandipora and Ganderbal districts as per the given format is furnished to this Directorate by 04.01.2022 at 2 pm positively through the concerned Dealing Assistants both in hard as well as soft copy,” the communication read.
It also underlined that the Administrative Department has taken serious note regarding non-submission of requisite information despite a lapse of more than two years and accordingly this office has been instructed to submit the information immediately.
DHSK has stated that non-compliance of instructions shall be viewed seriously and disciplinary action as warranted under rules shall be initiated against the defaulters/officers on their own risk and responsibility.
These 2274 fake and illegal appointments were first detected by audit and then SVO also established some of these appointments as fake and illegal.
These appointments as per the documents were made between 2000-2006 and in 2008 then State Vigilance Organization (SVO) established some of these appointments as fake and illegal.
The Health Department also formed various committees and they finally established 133 such appointments as fake and illegal and rest were found genuine. These 133 employees were removed but they approached the High Court and the matter is presently sub-judice.