Chandigarh MC chief for action against medical officer of health
The Chandigarh municipal corporation (MC) commissioner has written to the secretary, local government, UT administration, recommending action against medical officer of health (MOH) Dr Amrit Pal Singh for alleged “misconduct”.
MC commissioner Anindita Mitra has submitted a draft chargesheet against the official after “delay” in servicing a tender for providing manpower (122 drivers) for 96 twin-bin garbage collection vehicles, said a senior UT official, who shared the letter with HT.
The letter to the secretary states: “He (Dr Singh) has misconducted himself during his posting as medical officer of health in MC, Chandigarh. Accordingly, a draft chargesheet has been prepared against him... Since he is on deputation from Punjab, the chargesheet is required to be served by his present department being his appointment authority (sic).”
After the UT secretary’s approval, the chargesheet will be forwarded to the secretary, health, Punjab. Thereafter, the department can chargesheet the MOH on the basis of the draft chargesheet prepared by the Chandigarh MC.
It is learnt that Mitra took serious note of the proposal for constitution of a technical evaluation committee being put up on November 16 when technical bids were already opened on October 27.
The MC commissioner further observed: “This is an extremely important tender as with these 122 drivers... 96 vehicles shall become operational for door-to-door garbage collection of unserviced areas. This is a problem of immediate concern as we are facing NGT cases as well as falling back on the Swachta Survekshan front…This is gross misconduct and misleading statements have been made and an important tender delayed (sic).”
Mitra has reportedly also chargesheeted a superintendent and a senior assistant posted in the MOH branch in the same case, it is learnt.
‘I was fighting with medical issues’
When contacted, Dr Singh said: “There was some delay in the tendering process, but now it has been completed well in time even though I was fighting with some medical issues. So now, we will request our superiors to withdraw the chargesheet.”
Recently, Dr Singh was also grilled by the councillors in the MC General House meeting for delay in inviting fresh bids to award the sanitation contract in southern sectors. He was questioned on his file noting seeking the total road length in the city from the engineering department even after the final tender document was ready, which councillors alleged led to the delay in tendering process.
Less time to read?
Try Quickreads
-
Degree college to be opened in Bilaspur’s Swarghat: Jai Ram Thakur
Chief minister Jai Ram Thakur on Monday laid foundation stones of projects worth ₹112 crore in Bilaspur district on Monday. Addressing a meeting at Ghawandal Chowk, the CM announced that a government degree college will be opened at Swarghat in Naina Devi assembly segment. The CM said the government will take over Shakti Senior Secondary School, Naina Devi and open a Primary Education Block office in Naina Devi.
-
Monsoons likely to hit Himachal on June 28: IMD
With the monsoon likely to hit Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday, the Indian Meteorological Department has issued a four-day yellow alert for heavy rainfall coupled with thunderstorms in 10 districts of the state, barring Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti. Shimla meteorological centre director Surender Paul said, “Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds blowing at a speed of 30- 40km/hr are expected in the hill state between June 28 and July 1.”
-
HP constable recruitment paper leak: From history sheeters to I-T officer, list of accused runs long
From history sheeters to an engineer, cricket organiser, transporter, railway clerk, and income tax officer around 171 people from different walks of life have been arrested in the Himachal Pradesh constable recruitment case so far, officials said on Monday. Director general of police Sanjay Kundu said the 171 persons arrested include 116 candidates, fathers of nine candidates, and 46 agents, of which 21 were from the hill state, while 25 were from other states.
-
Punjab budget 2022-23: Mohali to get another medical institute
In a major health-infrastructure boost for Mohali, the AAP-led Punjab government in its maiden budget on Monday announced another super-specialty medical institute for the district. Finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema, while presenting the Punjab budget, also said the Punjab government aimed to make Mohali a hub of industry and information technology. As announced, the Punjab government will set up the state-of-the-art “Punjab Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences” at Mohali.
-
55-year-old man becomes latest victim of Covid in Mohali
A 55-year-old man became the latest victim of Covid-19 in Mohali on Monday, even as tricity's active cases once again crossed the 1000 mark after over four months. The deceased patient, a resident of Kakoli Chhat, Mohali, was also suffering from sepsis and died at the civil hospital in Phase 6. Amid the rising cases, this was the third Covid death in Mohali district in the past 15 days.
