4 HP Govt doctors terminated for prolonged unauthorised absence

The four doctors whose services were terminated include- Dr Tushar Patial, Assistant Professor in the Department of Plastic Surgery at AIMSS Chamiana (Shimla), Dr Vikas Kumar, Assistant Professor in the Department of CTVS at AIMSS Chamiana (Shimla), Dr Kunal Mahajan, Assistant Professor in the Department of Cardiology, IGMC Shimla (now AIMSS Chamiana, Shimla) and Dr Naveen Kumar, Assistant Professor in the Department of Paediatrics, IGMC Shimla. 

According to an official order issued by Health Secretary M. Sudha Devi on December 2, 2025, stated that all four professors had remained absent from duties without authorisation for a period exceeding 1.5 to 4 years. It added that these professors neither waited for formal acceptance of their resignation nor replied to the show-cause notice issued to them, prompting the government to take the action. 

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According to the order, Dr Tushar Patial, Assistant Professor in Plastic Surgery at AIMSS Chamiana, resigned from government service by giving a three-month notice on 27 July 2024, but stopped attending duties from 31 October 2024 without waiting for formal acceptance of his resignation. Despite being appointed through the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission in April 2022 and serving for about two years, five months and twenty-two days, he subsequently allegedly remained absent without authorisation for nearly one and a half years and did not respond to a show-cause notice issued in August 2025.

The government concluded that holding a formal inquiry was not feasible due to his prolonged absence and non-communication, noting that his continued non-reporting was affecting academic and clinical services in the Plastic Surgery department. As a result, under Rule 19 of the CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965, his services were terminated with effect from the date he stopped attending duty, and he has been barred from rejoining or seeking reinstatement.

Dr Vikas Kumar, appointed as Assistant Professor in the CTVS Department at AIMSS Chamiana in May 2022, requested to be relieved from service after being selected as Associate Professor at AIIMS Bilaspur. However, without receiving official approval, a relieving order, or an NOC, he allegedly left his government post and remained absent from 31 July 2022 onward. After serving only two months and twenty-two days, he remained unauthorizedly absent for more than three and a half years and later admitted that he had already joined AIIMS Bilaspur immediately after submitting his resignation. 

In his written reply to the show cause notice, he stated that he joined as an Associate Professor in the Department of CTVS at AIIMS Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, immediately after submitting his resignation, as mentioned in the government order. 

"However, it is evident that he accepted and joined this assignment without obtaining prior permission and without following the prescribed procedure of State Government. His reply, therefore, cannot be considered a valid justification for his continued absence from duty.

In exercise of the powers conferred under Rule 19 of the CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965, the services of Dr Vikas Kumar, Assistant Professor, Department of CTVS, AIMSS Chamiana (Shimla), are hereby terminated with effect from 31.07.2022, i.e., the date from which he absented himself from Government duty without authorization. Further, the above named officer shall have no right to rejoin or claim reinstatement to the said post in the State," read the order. 

Similarly, the government terminated the services of Dr Kunal Mahajan, Assistant Professor in the Department of Cardiology at IGMC Shimla, after he allegedly remained absent from duty for four years and one month without authorisation. Dr Mahajan had submitted his resignation on 30 September 2021 through proper channels, but left his post the very next day, 1 October 2021, without waiting for formal acceptance. 

Appointed through the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission in July 2019, he had completed two years, two months and nineteen days of service before reportedly abandoning his duties. Despite the issuance of a Show Cause Notice on 05 August 2025, he neither responded nor returned to work.

"In view of the continuous unauthorized absence and his failure to report back to duty, it is not feasible for the Department to indefinitely await his return, particularly when his absence is adversely affecting the delivery of academic and services to both UG/PG students. The situation is also affecting the overall functioning of the Department of Cardiology, IGMC Shimla (now AIMSS Chamiana, Shimla), thereby compromising public interest and the larger healthcare objectives of the State. In exercise of the powers conferred under Rule 19 of the CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965, the services of Dr. Kunal Mahajan, Assistant Professor, Department of Cardiology, IGMC Shimla (now AIMSS Chamiana, Shimla), are hereby terminated with effect from 01.10.2021, i.e., the date from which he absented himself from Government duty without authorization. Further, the above named officer shall have no right to rejoin or claim reinstatement to the said post in the State," the order stated. 

Dr Naveen Kumar, who was serving as Assistant Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at IGMC Shimla, submitted a one-month prior notice for resignation on 1 July 2022, followed by a resignation letter on 1 August 2022. However, without waiting for the formal acceptance of his resignation, he allegedly stopped reporting for duty from 2 August 2022. 

He was appointed through the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission and joined the post on 27 April 2022, serving for three months and three days before remaining absent for more than three years and four months. He reportedly failed to provide a valid justification for his prolonged absence, stating instead that he had joined AIIMS Bathinda as an Associate Professor.

"In his written reply, he has stated that he has joined as an Associate Professor at AIIMS, Bathinda w.e.f. 20.07.2022. However, it is evident that he accepted and joined this assignment without obtaining prior permission and without following the prescribed procedure of State Government. His reply, therefore, cannot be considered a valid justification for his continued absence from duty. The competent authority is satisfied that it is not reasonably practicable to conduct an inquiry in the manner prescribed under Rule 14 of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965, in the instant case, as the officer concerned has remained absent from duty for an extended and indefinite period without any communication or response to the notice issued.

In exercise of the powers conferred under Rule 19 of the CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965, the services of Dr. Naveen Kumar, Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatrics, IGMC Shimla, are hereby terminated with effect from 02-08-2022, i.e., the date from which he absented himself from Government duty without authorization. Further, the above named officer shall have no right to rejoin or claim reinstatement to the said post in the State," added the order. 

To view the official order, click on the link below: 

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