Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 22: In a significant move against the alleged financial irregularities in the Hospital Development Funds at the District Hospital (DH) Kulgam the Health and Medical Education (H&ME) Department has placed three officials including a former Medical Superintendent under suspension pending inquiry.
As per a suspension order issued in this regard, the officials who have faced the suspension have been identified as Dr Afsana Banoo, the former Medical Superintendent of DH Kulgam, Mohammad Ashraf, the former Senior Assistant and Mohammad Shafi, another Senior Assistant at the DH Kulgam.
An order issued by the H&ME states, “Pending enquiry into the conduct relating to embezzlement of Hospital Development funds in District Hospital, Kulgam, the officials are hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect.”
It is to be noted here that the move has come in response to the serious allegations of misappropriation of funds meant for the development of the hospital. Before this, H&ME had ordered an inquiry into the issue surrounding the payment made to the supplier of a CT Scan Machine at the District Hospital (DH) in Kulgam, which allegedly was against the set norms.
For that, as was earlier reported by Excelsior, the H&ME had formed a 3-member committee which was tasked with investigating the matter with the mandate of identifying the source of funding for the improper payment and assessing the financial loss incurred by the exchequer.
Furthermore, as per the latest action, H&ME stated, during the period of suspension, the officials will report to the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir and submit their monthly attendance records to the Department.
In addition to the personnel suspensions, Mudasir, the DEIC Manager at District Hospital, Kulgam, has been reassigned to the office of the Mission Director, National Health Mission, J&K.
The investigation into the alleged financial misconduct, as per the H&ME, will be led by a two-member committee, which has been tasked to thoroughly investigate the matter and delve into the allegations and compile a comprehensive report within a span of 15 days.
The committee members include Dr Yash Pal Sharma, Director Coordination of New Government Medical Colleges, J&K, and Muzaffar Ahmad Rather, Chief Account Officer at Government Medical College, Anantnag.
The committee has been further instructed to review the preliminary inquiry conducted by the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir, along with any other pertinent documents or evidence.
The order states, “The inquiry committee shall submit its report along with explicit recommendations to the Health and Medical Education Department within a period 15 days from the date of issuance of this order.”
Notably, this action follows a recent case wherein a private security guard working at DH Kulgam was apprehended on charges of siphoning off Rs 33 lakh from the official account of the Medical Superintendent.
While the accused remains in custody with the recovered amount seized, the probe remains on to uncover any potential connections or implications related to the broader allegations of financial misconduct within the hospital.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
