A tale of negligence and violation: The unfortunate show in HME Department

No rule for Shaffkat!

• This is the perfect opportunity for the Administrative Secretary of Health & Medical Education, Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah to take decisive action and revoke all irrational and unlawful orders that have set harmful precedents.
• The family of MLA Shagun Parihar has faced, and continues to face, significant threats. Yet, scarcely any member of her family sought or secured a transfer to another district. Remarkably, she herself contested elections from her native constituency, demonstrating unwavering courage and commitment.
•  I am making every effort to highlight issues that are damaging our society and system, driven solely by a sense of responsibility and without any prejudice. I firmly reiterate that I hold no personal grudge against anyone. However, I will continue to single out such employees whose actions hinder progress, enabling officers to implement necessary reforms within their departments.

RC Sharma Chanakya
Jammu, Dec 17: Who will take decisive action against processes that erode the sanctity and purpose of the law of the land? When will the Administrative Secretary of Health & Medical Education in Jammu & Kashmir put an end to such malpractices and revoke all orders made in past? Why is our system so fragile that employees like Shaffkat can easily manipulate it for their own convenience? Who will strengthen the system to ensure that such individuals cannot harm society? Are the powers vested in the Administrative Secretary of Health & Medical Education insufficient to rein in defiant, self-serving, and unyielding employees? These are pressing and difficult questions that demand answers from the Administrative Secretary of Health & Medical Education. It is imperative for him to address these concerns and eliminate the malpractices plaguing the department to restore its integrity and efficiency.
The Health & Medical Education Department is one of the most vital departments, directly engaging with the public, particularly the underprivileged, who frequently rely on government hospitals for treatment. Imagine the plight of a patient who, upon reaching the hospital, discovers that the staff member responsible for their care has been transferred to another district without a replacement. Such a situation not only frustrates the patient but also jeopardizes their health, causing irreparable harm.
The transfer of Shaffkat reflects a glaring failure of the system. The transfer order does not indicate any imminent life threat to him at the time, yet he managed to secure the transfer, blatantly circumventing the law of the land-a move that stands as a slap in the face of the entire administrative framework.
Even if we assume, for argument’s sake, that Shaffkat genuinely faced a life threat, he was certainly not the only employee in Doda encountering such challenges. Several employees in Doda have faced genuine and direct threats to their lives but were never transferred to Jammu. Even our politicians, who have often lived under constant threats, have stood their ground and served their constituencies, with some tragically losing their lives in the process.
A living example is MLA Shagun Parihar, whose father and uncle were senselessly gunned down by terrorists on November 1, 2018. Despite the brutal loss of her family members, hardly any employee from her family was transferred to Jammu under the pretext of a life threat. Moreover, Shagun Parihar herself contested elections from the same constituency six years after this tragic incident, displaying courage and dedication to her community.
Therefore, Shaffkat’s claimed excuse of a life threat, if any, lacks credibility. Furthermore, the Administrative Secretary should not have turned this minor issue into a significant disruption. It is imperative that such actions are scrutinized, ensuring that the system remains just and transparent, serving the interests of society rather than bending to individual convenience.
(To be continued)