23 surplus lab technicians sacked at Amritsar district hospital

Punjab health department says no fair inquiry possible as all are influential

The Punjab health and family welfare department on Friday sacked 23 “influential” lab technicians working at the Amritsar civil hospital, citing that they were in surplus of the sanctioned posts.

As many as 28 people were working as lab technicians against five sanctioned posts at the hospital.

While issuing a notice to Amritsar civil surgeon Dr Jugal Kishore, department’s additional chief secretary Anurag Agarwal said: “There are more than 27 lab technicians working in the district hospital, Amritsar, against the sanctioned posts of five. I have requested many times to rationalise and send back the surplus lab technicians at their respective place of postings but it seems that due to their influence, they still continue to work (there).”

“We have to come out of the VIP culture. Since all the surplus lab technicians are very influential, no fair inquiry can be held against them,” the notice further reads.

As many as 28 people were working as lab technicians against five sanctioned posts at the hospital. “All those surplus have been dismissed from service or their contract terminated with immediate effect,” confirmed Aggarwal.

Dr Jugal Kishore said he has received the notice and the surplus lab technicians will not perform duties anymore.

(with inputs from Patiala)