Former Akola DDHS named Bhandara CS

Nagpur: Former deputy director of health services (DDHS) Dr Riyaz Farooqui has been appointed as the civil surgeon of Bhandara District General Hospital, officials said.
Incumbent Dr Pramod Khandate was suspended and transferred to Wardha as a punishment for the January 9 fire at the SNCU. However, it remains to be seen if Dr Farooqui assumes charge on Monday, especially amid reluctance from several senior officers in Bhandara and rest of Nagpur division.Officials say the hospital has been going through a crucial phase after the tragedy and needed a sound administrator. Dr Farooqui has served as civil surgeon of Gadchiroli and medical superintendent at Regional Mental Hospital, Nagpur before taking up the top post as DDHS Akola from which he superannuated recently.
Officials said he had sought time to take charge by February 8. As per GR, the age limit for DDHS is fixed at 60 while an officer can continue at CS-cadre till 62.
Responding to TOI’s report published on Sunday, acting Bhandara civil surgeon Dr Piyush Jakkal said he was the senior among all the CS-cadre and DHO-cadre officers in Bhandara district.