Dental Assistant suspended for running private clinic during duty hours

The action was taken after a complaint was registered against the dental assistant alleging that he had opened an illegal dental clinic opposite Tehsil Office Billawar where he brought gullible dental patients. He charged huge sum amount of money and practiced during duty hours.

Taking note of the complaint, the Additional Chief Secretary Health & Medical Education (H&ME) Department Vivek Bhardwaj had sent a team from Civil Secretariat Jammu to PHC Godufalal Billawar. The officials found that he was absent from his duties at the PHC, and was instead running his private dental clinic. The account books and CCTV footage seized from the clinic further showed that the official was performing private practice during working hours without any requisite license.

The suspension order issued by Director Health Services, Jammu Dr Renu Sharma read, "Pending enquiry, Junior Dental Technician posted at PHC Godufalal, Block Billawar, District Kathua is placed under suspension with immediate effect in terms of Rule 31 (1) of J&K Civil Services (Classification, Control & Appeal) Rules, 1956."

The Chief Secretary Bhardwaj added that they would not tolerate such practice of government officials in the health sector, adding that strict action would be taken against employees who were involved in illegal private practice during working hours.

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He warned the medical and para-medical workers from getting into such illegal private practices. Bhardwaj added that strict action would be taken against such officials like termination from service.

As per a media report in the Daily Excelsior, the dental technician is required to remain attached in the official of Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Kathua during his period of suspension, the order added.

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