EARTH NEWS SERVICE Srinagar, Dec 16 |15: In a brazen violation of the recruitment rules and also without the approval of the state government, several hospitals have made unauthorized appointments under the Hospital Development Fund (HDF) in Kashmir Valley. According to sources, 132 illegal, extra-constitutional and unauthorized appointments had been made by a former medical superintendent of Sub-District Hospital Sopore in North Kashmir while such illegal appointments have also been made in District Hospital Pulwama. The appointments were made in complete violation and disregard of the Government Order No. 954 HME of 2000 Dated: 21-12-2000 and Government Order No. 150-HME of 2005 Dated: 15-3-2005, which make it clear that the HDF has no scope for employing or engaging people. The fund, according to the orders, is meant for minor repairs and sanitation of the hospitals in case of “any exigency or emergency.” The Medical Superintendents of District and Sub-District hospitals need the approval of at least one MLA/MLC to operate the HDF. Sources added that out of 132 employees appointed illegally under HDF at SDH Sopore only 35 employees work on daily basis while rest of other employees draw salaries illegally. “The then Medical Superintendent responsible for these illegal appointments have been transferred to some other hospital while his successor sought voluntary transfer after observing the mess,” said a doctor on condition of anonymity. Terming it baseless, the then Medical Superintendent Sopore said that some people want to malign his image and they have been cooking stories against him. ‘Illegal’ appointments under HDF have also been reported from District Hospital Pulwama. Reports said that on the recommendations of a political leader, several people have been engaged under HDF.
