ET Report
Srinagar, June 9: On May 31, when the then Director, SK Institute of Medical Science (SKIMS), Soura was accorded farewell, he made as many as seven alleged backdoor appointments in the SKIMS Medical College Hospital before relinquishing the office.
Official documents, a copy of which lies with the Early Times, reveal that former Director accorded sanction to appointments for various jobs including Theater Assistant and the Blood Bank Assistants, in the hospital.
Three Theater Assistants were appointed vide order number 151 SKIMS-MC of 2016, dated May 31, 2016.
"Sanction is hereby accorded to the appointment of following candidates as Theater/OT Assistants in terms of J&K Special Recruitment Rules 2015 notified vide SRO 202 of 2015 dated 30-5-2015… against the available vacancies on probation for five years under the categories as shown against each in SKIMS Medical College Hospital Bemina," reads a copy of the order.
Likewise, on the same day, in a separate order vide number 152 SKIMS-MC of 2016, four Blood Bank Assistants were appointed.
Medicos who questioned the "eleventh hour appointments" said: "What was the emergency of making these appointments on the last moment when it had not been done for the past around a year? It clearly hints at a shady deal."
Pertinently, the SKIMS Medical College and its hospital has been under scanner for large scale irregularities, which allegedly remained unchecked for the past several years, while the latest appointments have only added to the "mounting muck".
"SKIMS has history of corruption and favoritism, which has gone unchecked over the years only because most of those who were appointed as Directors of this prestigious hospital didn't do justice with their job as they happened to be influential enjoying political patronage ," said a delegation of medicos from the hospital.
Subsequent to the chair falling vacant with the retirement of Dr Zargar, the government has assigned the charge of Director SKIMS to Secretary Health & Medical Education Department, Dr MK Bhandari.
While the process for the appointment of the new Director for SKIMS is underway, reports of lobbying for the top chair have already started popping up.
The government has called interviews for the post of Director SKIMS on June 11 and 12 at the Banquet Hall here while Chief Secretary BR Sharma is schedule to chair the selection committee panel. |
