No action against Amritsar medical college principal

CHANDIGARH: It’s more than 20 days since the vigilance bureau (VB) caught Government Medical College, Amritsar, principal Dr BS Bal while doing private practice at his house, and two weeks have passed since the VB submitted a detailed report against the principal, but no departmental action has been initiated against Bal.

Eyebrows have been raised against medical education department high-ups as to why no action has been initiated against Bal, who, sources said, used his influence to “convince” the officials not to take any departmental action against him.

A controversial officer on special duty (OSD) in the health ministry is said to be “setting things” for Bal.

“The relationship between the OSD and Bal is already in public domain and both have successfully exerted pressure on the medical education high-ups by taking help of senior political leaders of Amritsar,” said a senior officer of medical education department.

Notably, this OSD was known for calling shots in the health and medical education department during the previous government as well.

After catching Bal red-handed on May 7, the VB in its probe report has indicted the principal for violating the service rules and has recommended “strong action” against him.

“Bal was doing this practice in routine and has been found to be recommending patients to visit private labs for tests and private pharmacies to buy medicines,” said the report, accessed by HT.

The Punjab government had banned private practice by government doctors in the state in 2013.

“Bal was transferred two days after he was caught by VB, but the department has not initiated any action against him. The probe report has been withheld in the ministry of medical education,” said an officer.

Director, medical education and research, Dr Sujata Sharma said any action against the principal has to be taken by the state government. “In such cases only government recommends action. As far as the directorate is concerned, we have transferred him as principal after he was caught by the vigilance,” said Sujata.

Acting on a tip-off, an eightmember VB team, led by DSP (vigilance), Amritsar, Navjot Singh, sent a decoy as a patient to the principal’s residence at Medical Enclave on May 7 and carried out a raid at 8am. The team found eight patients waiting at the clinic.

The bureau conducted the raid following an input about Dr Bal doing private practice despite being a government doctor. The principal has repeatedly claimed that the raid was a “trap” against him and he was being framed.

VB, WHICH CAUGHT DR BS BAL WHILE DOING PRIVATE PRACTICE ON MAY 7, RECOMMENDED ACTION AGAINST HIM TWO WEEKS AGO