Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Mar 30: In a high voltage drama, Heads of various Departments and Units in Government Medical College Jammu today boycotted counseling of the shortlisted candidates for the post of Assistant Surgeon/House Surgeon in Superspecialty Hospital following heated exchange of words with the Principal GMC Dr Aniece Choudhary, here today.
The verbal dual between Dr Aniece Choudhary and Heads of different Departments took place over alleged violation of norms in selection criteria of the candidates as well as nomenclature of the post.
Labeling serious allegations of favouritism and corruption against Dr Aniece Choudhary in the selection process, all the HoDs, except one, left the Principal’s Committee Room where counseling of the candidates in merit list for the post of Assistant Surgeon/House Surgeon, was about to begin.
HoDs from General Medicines, General Surgery, Cardiothoracic, Cardiology, Urology, Nephrology, Pediatrics, Cardiac Anaesthesia and General Anaesthesia along with Dr Aniece Choudhary had assembled in the GMC Principal’s Committee Room for counseling of the candidates.
According to the reliable sources, the trouble erupted when Dr Sunil Gupta, HoD Urology raised the issue of alleged violation of norms in preparing the merit list of candidates and nomenclature of the post. He was supported by Dr Sushil Sharma from Cardiology and Dr S K Bali from Nephrology.
However, instead of making a clarification or justifying the selection on logical grounds, Dr Aniece Choudhary allegedly resorted to abuses and told the HoDs to get out of the committee room, sources claimed.
Soon the verbal dual turned into heated exchange of words during which both the sides hurled allegations against each other. The agitating HoDs accused Dr Aniece Choudhary of violating the selection norms and misusing his official position for corruption purposes.
The high voltage drama continued for more than half an hour before all the HoDs, except Dr Pooja of Cardiac Anaesthesia and one Dr Badyal from NRHM, left the Committee Room in protest against the alleged misbehaviour by Dr Aniece Choudhary.
The HoDs and Head of Units, who boycotted the counseling, included Dr J P Singh (Medicines), Dr Nasib Chand Digra (Surgery), Dr Gurjeet Singh (Cardio Thoracic Vascular Surgery), Dr Sushil Sharma (Cardiology), Dr Sunil Gupta, Dr S K Bali, Dr Rekha Harish (Paediatrics) and Dr Smiriti Chouhan (Anaesthesia)
As Dr Aniece Choudhary could not be contacted for his comments despite repeated attempts, sources said that following boycott of the counseling by HoDs, a verbal order was made by the Principal GMC Jammu to seek respective choice of the candidates.
When contacted Commissioner Secretary Health and Medical Education Manoj Kumar Dwivedi told the Excelsior that he was aware of the episode and necessary action would be taken. “No compromise will be made on fairness of the selection and transparency in the procedure. I will talk to HoDs as well as the Principal by Monday and take necessary action in this regard,” he said.
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