PGIMER MS seeks withdrawal of Chargesheet

Chandigarh : Medical Superintendent , Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Dr. AK Gupta in a surprising move has written to the Director, PGIMER asking for withdrawal of a charge sheet against him for not obeying the Health Ministry’s orders.

He alleges that the Union Health Minister had not issued orders against him and that the same were interpreted in the manner at the Under Secretary level.

Dr. Gupta was chargesheeted by the Director PGMIER, in April this year for having disobeyed the Union Health Minister’s order by continuing his 3 month posting with the World health Organisation,(WHO) in Nepal in 2014. It is believed that Mr. Gupta had not sought the ministry’s permission before going off on the posting. The Medical Superintendent had also applied for the post of Director, but in the absence of a vigilance clearance was not able to take on the assignment.

In a letter dated 10^th October 2015, the Health Ministry’s stated “We may, therefore, seek his [Dr Gupta] explanation as to why he should not be proceeded against departmentally.”

However, in a second departmental notification by the Under Secretary to the Director on November 16, 2015 it was stated : , “The matter has been examined by the ministry and it has been decided that regular departmental proceedings may be initiated against Dr AK Gupta.” “The director is requested to take further necessary action,” it further added.

Dr. Gupta however, demanded that the charge sheet be withdrawn based stating that there was a difference between the two orders. He said the chargesheet was not approved by any competent authority, in this case the Governing body of the PGI. According to him the president (Health Minister) , PGI (Health Minister) had only stated that why should he (Mr. Gupta) not be proceeded against departmentally.

Gupta argues in the letter.“But instead of seeking my explanation, the under-secretary modified the president’s order, directing PGI to start departmental proceedings,” he adds.

The PGI Director did not make himself available for comments to HT. Mr. Gupta commented by saying that he had said whatever he wanted to and had nothing further to add.