Bihar: Dead medical officer transferred, government says action taken
A medical officer in Bihar was transferred to another district in the Health Department even though he had died a month ago, the opposition told the state legislature on Tuesday. The Nitish Kumar government said it has taken remedial steps. The embarrassing anomaly was first flagged by RJD's Sheikhpura MLA Vijay Samrat outside the assembly premises before the day's proceedings commenced.
The medical officer had died of COVID-19 in February
Samrat brandished a copy of the notification issued by the Health Department on Monday, wherein one Dr. Ram Narayan Ram, a resident of Bhojpur district posted at Rohtas, was appointed as the new Civil Surgeon of Sheikhpura. "The medical officer died in February after testing positive for COVID-19. Only the Bihar Government can say how a dead man was given a posting," Samrat said.
Bihar assembly saw a huge scuffle on the issue
During the Zero Hour, fellow RJD MLA Lalit Kumar Yadav also flagged the issue on the floor of the House and demanded an explanation from the government. Members occupying the treasury benches looked askance as Speaker Vijay Kumar Sinha intervened, assuring the opposition legislator that the government would take serious note of the matter and do the needful.
Transfer is a time-consuming process: Health Minister Pandey
In the legislative council, the issue was raised by RJD MLA Subodh Kumar to which Health Minister Mangal Pandey responded. "Transfer and posting of senior medical officers is a time-consuming affair. There is often a gap of about a month between a name getting approved for a new posting and issuing of a notification," Pandey said.
Section Officer has been served with a show-cause notice
"We came to know about the anomaly and the Section Officer concerned has been served with a show-cause notice while the Additional Chief Medical Officer of Sheikhpura has been asked to take charge," Pandey said while answering in the assembly.
