After 2 years Vigilance probe against Director Health Services Kashmir heads no way

After 2 years Vigilance probe against Director Health Services Kashmir heads no way

‘2.5 Cr worth Kit Scam’

Saahil Suhail

Srinagar, July 24: State government is shielding the tainted Director Health Services Kashmir Dr Saleem-ul-Rehman during the odd hours could be easily established with the fact that vigilance organization of Kashmir hasn’t completed the probe in ‘2.5 Cr worth Kit Scam’ involving the director Health despite the passage of over 2 years.

Vigilance organization of Kashmir in 2012 had registered a case (32/2012) against the director Health Dr Saleem-ul-Rehman after the organization established a scam worth 2.5 Cr. Highly placed sources said that a scam worth 2.5 Cr for purchase of Kits under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) was established by Vigilance where-in the Director had purchased kits on exorbitant rates from PSU which was two times higher than the actual rates.

Sources said after receiving huge amount from the companies, Director Health spent 2.5 Cr in purchasing the Kits where as the actual amount of the cost of Kits was 1.30 Cr. In the scam about 1.20 Cr losses was incurred to state exchequer.

Top sources revealed that, State health Minister, Taj Mohi-u-Din was shielding the Director Health and it is because of the Congress minister that instead  of stepping down Dr Saleem-ul-Rehman got promoted earlier in this month on the day when he was facing allegations of molesting a staff nurse.

“It is irony that director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Saleem-ul-Rehman against whom an FIR stands registered in Vigilance organization of Kashmir is continuing as Director and got the promotion few days before.” A senior doctor posted in SKIMS told Early Times. 

He said that how come it is possible that the probe against him will be impartial and fair when he is on chair. “It’s open secret that the state government especially the health minister is shielding the director as he is advocating the anti-health care and wrong polices.” He added.

Doctors Association President, Dr Nisar-ul-Haq while demanding speedy investigation into the scam said that the director must step down.

“What happened with the vigilance probe against the director health services Kashmir, public wants to know and at the same time he must step down to ensure impartial and fair probe into the scam.” Haq said, adding till he holds the position of Director Health Services Kashmir, investigation can’t be fair.

He alleged that Director Health was directly involved in the spurious drug scam as he was heading the verification board. “Director is darling of state government which is shielding him for advocating the wrong polices in health care sector.” Haq said, adding government is husing up the cases and scams where Director Health stands involved.

 Pertinently, Director Health Services Kashmir Dr Saleem-ul-Rehman is in the news from past over months after a staff nurse posted is south Kashmir alleged that the Director and his three blue eyed officials molested her on several occasion.

On the 18th of June, 2014 when the so-called “enquiry” in infamous ‘Nurse molestation case’ was still underway, the accused Director who had been an Assistant Director till then was promoted to the post of Deputy Director; (he continued to hold the post of 'Incharge Director', as earlier). Interestingly, the person who issued the order is none other than the person who headed the one-man enquiry committee, constituted against the Supreme Court guidelines.

Furthermore, on 19^th of July Chief Medical officer forced to resign Dr Shafi Block Medical Officer from the post and rewarded accused Dr Ashraf Padder by appointing him as Block Medical Officer. Dr Ashraf Padder and Chief Medical Officer Nazir Ahmad Shahdad are themselves accused of molesting the staff nurse.