Probe ordered against doctors of 4 medical boards for issuing fake disability certificates to 307 people

Amalapuram: Dr B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema District Collector R Mahesh Kumar has ordered a detailed investigation into allegations of fraudulent disability certificates issued by several doctors at four state-appointed medical boards to 307 individuals to claim monthly pensions on medical grounds.

The investigation revealed that medical boards in Kakinada, Rajole, Amalapuram, and Rajamahendravaram had issued fraudulent certificates to a significant number of recipients, allowing them to claim disability pensions meant for those who are severely disabled. The disability pension scheme provides ₹15,000 monthly aid to individuals who are completely bedridden and ₹6,000 for those with partial disabilities. 

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Of the 668 pension recipients in the district, 281 individuals had obtained certificates claiming complete disability, granting them a higher ₹15,000 pension. However, officials discovered that these individuals were only eligible for the ₹6,000 monthly pension reserved for partial disabilities. A separate investigation found that 26 individuals, who had been receiving the maximum disability pension, were not eligible for any pension at all.

Collector Mahesh Kumar confirmed that the district administration has already begun the process of cancelling the disability pensions for those found ineligible. "As many as 26 individuals, who claimed complete disability and received ₹15,000 monthly aid, are not eligible to get any disability pension. Stringent action will be taken against the doctors responsible for issuing these fake certificates," said Kumar.

“A detailed inquiry will be done with the med­ical boards to ini­ti­ate strin­gent action against the doc­tors respons­ible for issu­ing the fake dis­ab­il­ity certicates," he told The Hindu. 

According to the press release, "The pro­cess to can­cel all the 26 dis­ab­il­ity pen­sions has begun, and the Col­lector has sub­mit­ted a report on the fake certificates and the claims of the beneciar­ies to higher author­it­ies for fur­ther action, accord­ing to a press release.

A team of officials, which includes Dis­trict Hos­pital Ser­vices Coordin­ator and dis­trict med­ical and health officers, have been told to sub­mit a report to ini­ti­ate action against the mem­bers of the four med­ical boards."

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