Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Mar 31: Seventeen staff members of various health institutions across district Poonch was suspended and their salaries withheld following surprise inspections carried out by Magistrates during which they were found absent from their duties illegally.
During the intervening night of March 29 and 30, several Magistrates including Additional Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Sub Divisional Magistrates and Tehsildars/Naib Tehsildars conducted surprise inspections of various health institutions of the district within their respective jurisdictions.
During inspections, some of the health institutions were found locked by the inspecting Magistrates and in some institutions gross absenteeism was found while as in some institutions, no proper duty roster was maintained.
Accordingly, Deputy Commissioner Poonch has placed the absentees under suspension with immediate effect and also withheld their salaries till further orders, pending enquiry into their conduct.
The absentees are Sanjeet Sharma (Lab Technician), Gulnaz (FMPH SNCU), Mast Ram (Dental Assistant), Ruksana (NHM Staff Nurse, Labour Room) and Satinder Pal (Driver) posted at SDH Mendhar, Harpreet Singh (Junior Pharmacist) and Waqar Ahmed (Driver) of PHC Mankote, Mohd Maroof (Nursing Orderly) and Sakinder Hayat (SW) of PHC Bhatadurian, Zubair Ahmed of PHC Chandak, Aftab Qureshi (Junior Pharmacist) and Mohd Latief (Safaiwala) of PHC Buflaiz and Mohd Shabir (Dental Assistant), Mohd Hafiz (Driver) and Pharmacists-Ahmad Din, Mohd Sadiq and NP Singh of SDH Mandi.
AS per the order, SDM Surankote/Mendhar have been appointed as enquiry officers in their respective jurisdictions as ACR Poonch for Mandi, Sawjian, Loran and Chandak to conduct thorough enquiry under rules and they shall submit their reports within two weeks for further necessary action.
In its order, the DC has also sought explanations from CMO Poonch and BMOs Mandi/Surankote/Mendhar as to why the action as warranted under relevant service rules should not be taken against them for lacking the supervisory role and ensuring the smooth functioning of the health institutions inspected by the Magistrates.
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