Will Govt. violate its own order yet again?
Srinagar, February 15: While government has imposed a blanket ban on the re-employment of officials in Jammu and Kashmir, Director, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Dr Showkat Ali Zargar, who is facing various corruption charges approaching his good offices to for getting another extension.
Dr Zargar’s term as faculty member superannuated on 31 May 2014 is trying his best for yet another extension beyond June 2nd, 2016 when he is completing 5 years tenure the maximum a Director can have if permitted.
The government in 2013 (vide Govt order no 719- GAD of 2013 dated 7-5-2013) had issued an order imposing a blanket ban of the reemployment of government officials.
According to a Government order, (Govt. Order No: 12 SKIMS of 2010) of May 14, 2010:“Tenure of Service: The appointment of the candidate shall be made on tenure basis up to a maximum of five years or till the appointee attains the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier”
The appointment order of Dr. Showkat Ali Zargar [Govt. Order No. 645-GAD of 2011] does not make any mention about the Advertisement Notice No. 2 of 2010, Recommendation of Selection Committee, Tenure of Service or Grade.
As a faculty member he attained the age of superannuation on retirement on 31 May, 2014. A person cannot retire on two different dates. Since the period of tenure as Director has not been specified at the time of appointing him on the post, he could not have been given any extension in his services as per State Cabinet decision number 116/12-2013 (April 24, 2013), imposed blanket ban on re-employment/extension. Not only this Dr Zargar after getting appointed as Director SKIMDS continued the benefits of a faculty member though not permitted and used to take vacation leaves specifically meant for teaching faculty as mentioned in MCI Guidelines.
Not only this he continued this benefit of teaching faculty beyond 31,May,2014 when he otherwise superannuated as a Faculty member and had requested in the Governing Body to get the retrospective effect to the the enhancement of age to the faculty of Medical Institutions as Govt effected the same from June 2014 vide order dated .
It is a mockery of an administrative position that Director has recently issued a circular for winter vacation of the teaching faculty of SKIMS Soura vide SIMS/223 ( P ) of 2015 dated 29-12-2015.Not only this he has divided the Directors office into two halves at his own will and split the vacation into two halves and shown himself availing the same in both halves .Such a thing has never been seen in the History of Medical Institution as u can never show the Office a Director as a teaching Unit no one has authority to split the winter vacation of 1srt or 2nd half into further halves though he is not entitled at asll and needs to be explained by him to the Govt said a senior faculty from SKIMS. He is treating the Institution as his kingdom as is evident from the fact that hundreds of irregularities surfacing in print media, representatations to Govt,complaints of corruption in his appointment as he was not eligible despite re-fixing his seniority illegally without approval of the competent authority vide Order no SIMS/Per/4144/2012-4233-38 dated 11-05-212 when he was holding the position of Director himself after 17 years of getting reappointed a fresh in 1998 subsequent his termination from rolls of SKIMS in 1993 vide order dated 8th Dec,1993 bearing no; SIMS/Per/543/93-8864-76 for his for his unauthorized absence (he had joined a job in Saudi Arabia) and also for indulging in private practice, have been suppressed by him. Faculty alleged that Dr Showkat who was appointed as Director SKIMS on June 3,2011, besides having bad track record, even was involved in the stone pelting. His involvement of stone pelting surfaced when as per notice No SO/SS/Index/11/71 dated 01/04/2011 CID special Branch of government of Jammu and Kashmir wrote to Joint Director SKIMS Soura to provide the full particulars including name, residence, parentage, design, DOB of Dr Showkat Zargar, HoD Gastro SKIMS. A person who was expelled from services could not be selected for the coveted post of the director of the Institute, aggrieved doctors asked.
It is also learnt that some complaints in State human rights commission and even Medical Council of India vide their letters SHRC/2013/45/ 2631-32 dated 3-7-2014
Even Vigilance organization is probing complaints against him vide verification no ABP-04/2014 VOK-Srinagar. Under such circumstances his corrupt practices in his appointment, administration, appointment and requruitment and bungling in purchases need to be probed rather than thing of any extension to such tainted persons. Any suitable Professor can be given the charge of Director till a formal selection is made said one of the senior faculty from SKIMS Soura.