VIVEK SHARMA
JAMMU: Already entangled in court cases, Directorate General of Indian System of Medicines has promoted a junior doctor as Assistant District Medical Officer, reportedly at the behest of Minister for Health and Medical Education Ch Lal Singh. Surprisingly, two promotees are facing criminal charges for possessing fake Reserved Backward Area (RBA) certificates.
To pave way for promoting the blue eyed doctor, a senior IMS lady doctor has been shifted from Kathua and attached with the office of DG ISM. Subsequently, Dr Vikram Singh Jamwal has been promoted as placed as ADMO Kathua.
Sources told STATE TIMES that Dr Jamwal’s promotion itself is questionable as the quota under RBA category had already been exhausted. As per rules, the prescribed quota under RBA is just 10 per cent. The Health and Medical Education Department had already promoted Dr Rakesh Kumar Raina and Dr Rakesh Kumar Shan under RBA category vide orders bearing Nos 111-HMED of 2009 dated March 2nd 2009 and 438 -HME of 2008 dated 26-5-2008 respectively.
In ISM Department, this is the third promotion of a doctor under RBA against the availability of just one post under the quota.
The two doctors promoted under RBA category are allegedly possessing fake RBA certificates. They are facing cases in Jammu and Kashmir High Court. Wife of one of these doctors has already been booked by Crime Branch on court orders for possessing fake RBA certificate.
As per the reservation rules, the reservation in RBA category prescribed 10 per cent of RBA. Health and Medical Education department vide order No. 111-HMED of 2009 dated March 2nd 2009 promoted one Dr. Rakesh Kumar Shan under Resident of Backward Area (RBA) category and one Dr. Rakesh Kumar Raina vide government order No. 438 -HME of 2008 dated 26-5-2008.
At present there are two officers working as Incharge ADMOs in RBA category out of total sanctioned strength of eight ADMOS ( Ayurvedic) in the Department of Indian System of Medicines, thus exceeding 10 per cent of quota as prescribed under Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act. Further Rule-24 of the Reservation Rules prescribes the validity of the Certificates, which are issued in favour of the person claiming the benefit, as five years. The verification is required to be made for renewal after following the set procedure. Presently there are several other officers who have been appointed on the basis of RBA certificates. They include Dr. Vikram Singh Jamwal and his wife Dr. Ranjana Bhau. Dr. Vikram Singh Jamwal was appointed as Medical Officer ( Ayurvedic) under RBA category on 21st December 2005 on the basis of renewed certificate of RBA category.
Under rules, for the purpose of promotion there is an income slab of Rs. 3 lakhs under Section 2 of RBA Reservation Act. In case of Dr Jamwal it is otherwise, as his income in the year 2009-2010 had been worked out at Rs. 3,27,123.
A complaint was filed under Sections 417, 418, 420 and 468 R.P.C against Dr. Rakesh Kumar Raina, Dr. Rakesh Kumar Shan and his wife Renu Shan in the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Jammu.
This was referred to Crime Branch, Jammu vide order dated 7th April 2012 under sub Section (3) of section 156 of Cr. P.C and Crime Branch, Jammu and an FIR 12/13 was registered against Renu Shan for procuring the RBA certificate by illegal means. Accordingly she got appointed.
Following registration of FIR the Crime Branch slept over the matter for unknown reasons. Reportedly the CB had been influenced by the persons who were arrayed as accused along with Renu Shan in the present FIR.
Now, Dr Vikram Jawmal has been promoted as ADMO Kathua under RBA category violating all the norms. The open category doctors are silent as they are under the fear psychosis that the Health Minister may post them to unwanted places.
