Controversy sparks over promotion of 6 doctors involved in forged certificate case

Chandigarh: The recent promotion of six doctors to the post of Senior Medical Officers (SMOs) by the Punjab Health Department has stirred controversy and raised questions about the integrity of the promotion process. These six doctors are part of a group of 32 individuals who are currently under investigation for allegedly submitting forged certificates during their recruitment.

In December 2023, the Punjab Health Department had written to the Punjab Police, urging them to take legal action against these 32 doctors. This follows the findings of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which had been investigating the 2008-09 doctors' recruitment scam.   

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Despite being part of the group under investigation, the six doctors were promoted following the recommendations of the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC). Health Department Principal Secretary Kumar Rahul, who signed the promotion orders, said he was unaware of the controversy surrounding the doctors and promised to look into the matter.  

Meanwhile, a senior health official, pleading anonymity, said that the six medical officers in question had not been found guilty by any government agency.

“Moreover, if and when they would be found guilty of any wrongdoing, their promotions would be reverted,” the official quoted above added.

The SIT report, submitted to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, had recommended legal action against the 32 doctors under sections 120-B, 420, 468, and 471 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which cover charges such as criminal conspiracy, cheating, and forgery.

As per the recent promotional orders, a copy of which is with HT, six of the 32 doctors have been promoted following the recommendations of the departmental promotion committee (DPC).   

The promotion of these six doctors has generated significant unrest among other medical professionals. One doctor affected by the promotions questioned the department, urging them to clarify the grounds on which these doctors, who were found guilty by the SIT, were given promotions.

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Speaking to Hindustan Times he said, “This is a classic example of how VIP people are treated above the law. These doctors are close relatives of senior bureaucrats and kin of former judges and are thus misusing the system. A doctor having no complaint against him or her typically struggles to even get a clearance certificate in a year but these doctors have got promotions despite department writing for criminal action against them.”