Muzaffarpur civil surgeon in soup over recruitment of doctors, medical staff

PATNA: Muzaffarpur civil surgeon Dr S K Choudhary seems to have landed in deep trouble following a show-cause notice served on him for alleged irregularities in the recruitment of doctors and paramedical staff on daily wages for Covid-19 vaccination in the district.
The officer on special duty (OSD) at the health directorate, Anand Prakash, on Saturday has asked the civil surgeon to explain within 48 hours as to why action should not be initiated against him for alleged gross anomalies in the recruitment of doctors and paramedical staff in the district for a period of three months.
“I would not like to make any comment on the issue,” Choudhary told this newspaper over phone on Sunday.
The action followed a report submitted to the state health department by district magistrate Pranav Kumar on Thursday, recommending disciplinary action against the civil surgeon on the basis of an inquiry report. Earlier, a three-member team headed by Muzaffarpur DDC probed the allegations of irregularities in the appointments.
Altogether 780 doctors, ANMs, GNMs, ward boys and data entry operators were appointed on the directive of the health directorate for vaccination and the selected candidates were subsequently deputed at the Muzaffarpur Sadar hospital and different primary health centres in the district.
The district performed well in the vaccination drive after the posts were filled with daily wagers. However, an audio went viral on social media claiming that money changed hands in the recruitments. Taking a note of the audio, the DM ordered an inquiry.
The probe team found the allegations true. Subsequently, the DM ordered the civil surgeon to terminate the services of the 780 candidates. On Thursday, the civil surgeon cancelled their appointment, leading to protest by the selected candidates.
The protest prompted the civil surgeon to withdraw the termination order and he allowed them to perform their duty till July 23.
In the meanwhile, the heath directorate cancelled the appointments and sought an explanation from the civil surgeon.
Reliable sources said a suspended JD(U) MLC and an MP played an important role in the appointment of doctors and paramedical staff on daily wages. Later, an advocate, Pankaj Kumar, lodged a complaint with the DM in this regard.