The Health and Medical Education Department on Thursday suspended six doctors including five medical officers for remaining unauthorisedly absent from their duties.
Those who have been terminated include Dr. Mudasir Bashir Medical Officer, Dr. Muzaffar Mohidin Consultant Surgeon, Dr. Shazia Kausar Medical Officer, Dr. Ubaid Ali Medical Officer, Dr. Nowsheen Mir Medical Officer and Dr. Imran Khan Medical Officer.
The order issued by Bhupinder Kumar, Secretary to the Government Health & Medical Education Department reads: “The Director, Health Services, Kashmir had intimated that among others following doctors were proceeded for higher studies within and outside the UT of J&K without prior permission from the competent authority thereby resorted to unauthorized absent from duties”.
“In some cases notices were served to these doctors by Director Health Services, Kashmir and in some cases by Administrative Department, wherein, an opportunity was given to them to resume their duties immediately, otherwise disciplinary action shall be initiated against them as warranted under rules”, the order reads.
These doctors as per the order neither replied to the final notice nor reported back for duties except Dr. Ubaid Ali who after completion, of course, had signed a compulsory bond with the Karnataka Government to work there till January 2023, without any intimation to Health & Medical Education Department, Union Territory of J&K and deserves to be considered under Article 128 of J&K CSR Vol-I.
The cases of these doctors have been examined thoroughly in the department in view of the rule position governing the subject and it has been found that since these doctors have not resumed their duties despite notices being issued to them and this act on their part is a voluntary act and they are liable to be discharged from services on account of unauthorized absence from duties for more than five years, the order reads.
“Now, therefore, in terms of Article 128 of J&K Civil Services Regulation, Vol-I., the services of six un-authorizedly absent doctors are hereby terminated and they are discharged from the Government service”, the order added.
In a separate order, Health and Medical Education Department has said that a showcase notice was given to 11 doctors and it was decided to initiate disciplinary proceedings in terms of Rule 33 of the Jammu & Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956 against all such doctors who are pursuing higher studies without proper permission within & outside of the Union Territory of J&K.
On examining the reply/relevant documents, it has been found that several doctors have already completed/are likely to be completing their higher studies/super-specialist courses and have shown their willingness to resume their duties. Moreover, the specialization in the respective disciplines by these doctors shall be beneficial in treating the patients with advanced knowledge and expertise, the order reads.
Whereas the case of these doctors was examined in the Department and in the interest of patient care, it has been decided that the doctors who have submitted their joining report/reply in the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir/Administrative Department in compliance to the notices served upon them, be allowed to resume their duties, order states.
Now, therefore, a sanction is hereby accorded to allow the following doctors to re-join within a period of 21 days in the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir to resume their duties, with prospective effect, subject to the conditions, the order added.
A few conditions include that they (doctors) shall give in writing (in the shape of a bond) that they will save the UT of J&K, at least for a period of five years and that the period of their unauthorised absence shall be decided separately.
With the termination of 6 doctors, the Health and Medical Education Department in this year has suspended more than 120 doctors for remaining unauthorised absenteeism with most of them being medical officers.