Nitesh Sangral
Following an expose of “illegal” transfers in Poonch by The Typewriter newspaper, Jammu and Kashmir Health Department detached 35 officials and asked them to report to their original place of posting with immediate effect.
As per the latest order by the health department, all the officials transferred in last couple of months have been detached. Earlier, The Typewriter in its report “In Violation Of Policy, CMO Poonch Transfers Staff ‘Without’ Approval Of Competent Authority” had highlighted nuisances of transfers in the health department of poonch.
The Typewriter Newspaper in its report exposed the ugly face of illegal transfer industry in Poonch, wherein health officials were mocking and throwing government orders in air by making transfers without any approval from the competent authority.
Talking to The Typewriter, a senior officer in health department, wishing anonymity said that the report of newspaper has exposed the ‘monopoly and arbitrary’ functioning of the department in Poonch.
“Officers were forced to take cognizance of the matter, as The Typewriter exposed the nuisances of arbitrary transfer industry in the department,” said officer, adding that it is unfortunate that even senior officers of the health department felt no need to take cognizance of the matter of their own. He stated that transfers by CMO poonch could be just a tip of the iceberg and there are more such cases across the health department of the Union Territory.
Without naming anyone, officer alleged that most of the transfers are carried in lieu of money. “It would not be perhaps wrong to say that huge money is involved in these transfers and if health department is serious to fix this menace, they should call an investigation,” said officer, adding that all those, who have instrumented these transfers, without approval from competent authority should be questioned about their intentions and necessity of such transfers.
Pertinent to mention that The Typewriter in its report stated that Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Poonch violated the transfer policy of the Jammu and Kashmir Government by transferring Nursing Orderly, without seeking any approval from the competent authority.
According to the details available with The Typewriter, the transfer order of CMO Poonch, Dr Gulam Ahmed Malik has mocked the Government’s order no 948 JK (GAD) of 2020 dated 15-10-2020.
