Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 13: Castigating the authorities of Health Department for causing huge financial losses to the State Exchequer by way of not implementing the Government policy for running medical fair price shops in letter and spirit, the State Vigilance Commission (SVC), which met under the chair of the Chief Vigilance Commissioner, has warned that the officials responsible for the willful omissions and commissions have to face the action of law.
The Commission said that the reports obtained from the health department on the functioning of fair price medical shops revealed that the officers on the helm of affairs did not enter into a proper agreement and did not fix the rent rates after conducting auction as laid down in Government policy, thereby causing huge loss to the Government and benefiting the shopkeepers.
In a complaint about un-authorized running of two fair price shops in the premises of Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Bishnah, it was alleged that these were allotted to Bishnah Medical Cooperative Consumer Store Ltd and Amar Bishnah Cooperative Medical Consumer Store Ltd by the Health Department in 1997 for a period of five years and the Health Department continued their illegal allotment beyond authorized period on a paltry rent, thereby giving undue benefit to the illegal allottees as both the shops are running without any permission in violation of Government orders which came in force in 2008 and required proper policy of auction to be followed in allotments.
It is further stated that shops were allotted on a meager monthly rent of Rs 134 and Rs 137 respectively provided that the allottees will sell medicines etc, on no profit no loss basis, and alleged that both the allottees violated the very conditions of the agreement and are selling medicines etc as per prevailing market rates at maxim retail price aimed to earn huge profits.
The authorities of health department further permitted the allottees to continue their business which they are continuing till date in violation of Government Order No 492-HME of 2008.
Earlier taking cognizance of a complaint filed by Surinder Sharma of Village Patti, district Samba, against Director Health Services, Deputy Director, Health Services, Jammu and BMO Bishnah, the SVC had sought a report from Health Department.
While going through the report submitted by the Health Department and other relevant records obtained from the department as well as the complainant, the Commission noticed that as per the policy framed by the Government under Order No 492, the department was supposed to regulate the medical fair price shops as per new policy and allot shops by auction, but instead the Director allowed both the shops to run their business in gross violation of aforementioned Government order thereby causing huge losses to State Exchequer and illegal benefit to the allottees.
In view of the above revelations, the Commission has observed that the illegality committed needs to be investigated so that persons responsible for this willful negligence are identified and dealt with relevant laws and has accordingly listed the case for further consideration on coming November 10.
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