Embezzlement of funds: 3 officials suspended at DH Kulgam

Srinagar, Aug 22: Health and Medical Education (H&ME) Department on Tuesday suspended three officials including the former Medical Superintendent of District Hospital Kulgam in connection with an embezzlement of Hospital Development Funds.
As per an order of the H&ME Department, the officials, who have been placed under suspension are Dr Afsana Banoo, the then MS, District Hospital, Kulgam, Mohammad Ashraf, the then Senior Assistant, and Mohammad Shafi, Senior Assistant.
“It is further ordered that during the period of suspension, they shall remain attached in the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir and shall submit their bio-metric attendance to the Health and Medical Education Department on monthly basis,” the order said.
Besides that, Mudasir DEIC Manager (on contractual basis), District Hospital, Kulgam is, hereby, attached in the office of the Mission Director, National Health Mission, J&K with immediate effect, the order further said.
Following the order, the H&ME also issued another order regarding the embezzlement of Hospital Development Fund and constituted a two-member committee to enquire the matter and submit a report within period of 15 days.
“Sanction is, hereby, accorded to the constitution of two-member inquiry committee, to enquire into embezzlement of HDF of District Hospital, Kulgam while taking into account, the preliminary inquiry as conducted by the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir as well as all other connected documents/evidence,” the order said.
The committee members include Dr Yashpal Sharma, Director Coordination, New Government Medical Colleges, J&K and Muzaffar Ahmad Rather, Chief Account Officer, Government Medical College, Anantnag.
The committee shall submit its report along with explicit recommendations to H&ME Department within 15 days from the date of issuance of this order.