Latest news with #GovernmentServantsConductRules
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Row over Urology department HoD's Facebook post: expert panel recommends measures for hassle-free supply of equipment
An expert panel which probed the systemic issues raised by the Head of Department (HoD), Urology, of the Government Medical College here in a Facebook post in June has recommended measures for the hassle-free and uninterrupted supply of essential medical equipment. At the same time, the panel concluded in its report that HoD Dr. Haris Chirackal, who kicked up a political storm with his social media post, had violated the code of conduct for government employees even though his intention was 'good.' Such tendencies should be discouraged, it said. 'Government employees are expected to maintain a professional demeanour, avoid conflicts of interest, and uphold the integrity of the public service,' the report said, citing the Kerala Government Servants' Conduct Rules, 1960. The four-member committee comprised senior doctors from government medical colleges in Alappuzha, Kottayam and Kollam. In a Facebook post on June 27, Dr. Chirackal had vented his frustration at having had to call off a surgical procedure at the last minute due to the unavailability of an equipment accessory. Procurement delay The committee observed that the entire issue stemmed from the delay in the procurement of the Pneumatic Lithoclast probe. Dr. Chirackal had told the Committee that his grievances were not addressed by the authorities despite repeated requests. 'The delay can be attributed to insufficient financial delegation for the Hospital Development Society (HDS) Secretary, getting necessary administrative sanction and the recent price hike of the item,' the panel noted. In its report, the committee called for simplified purchase procedures of costly consumables and disposables, ensuring fund availability through the Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi (KASP), and streamlining the process of securing administrative sanction for the purchase of equipment. It further suggested that the financial delegation powers of the Hospital Superintendent should be enhanced so that equipment and accessories can be purchased using Hospital Development Society funds in emergencies. It also observed that if the administrative sanctions for the procurement of equipment are made available by May instead of August every year, the purchase process can be made hassle-free. Further, the expert panel has also recommended a departmental investigation into a Tissue Morcillator with Morcilloscope costing ₹12 lakh that was allegedly missing from the Urology department. On July 31, the Director of Medical Education had issued a show cause notice to Dr. Chirackal on why action should not be initiated against him for violating provisions of the Government Servants Conduct Rules.
The Print
31-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Kerala HC orders disbursal of pension of former VC Ciza Thomas
'This court cannot ignore the gross injustice meted out to such a distinguished government servant. We will have to protect her pensionary right, which is a property right under the Constitution, and it cannot be denied as such unless by a procedure established by law. A bench of Justices A Muhamed Mustaque and Johnson John noted that the government exercised its authority and power to 'harass' Thomas for taking up the VC's office at the instance of the chancellor, the then Governor Arif Mohammed Khan. Kochi, May 30 (PTI) The Kerala High Court held on Friday that the state government withholding the pension of Ciza Thomas, former vice-chancellor of the A P J Abdul Kalam Technological University, was a violation of her fundamental rights and directed that her entire terminal benefits be released within two weeks. 'In view of the above, we direct the official respondents (government) to release the entire terminal benefits due to her within two weeks from today,' the bench said. It said the question of interest payable on the amount can be left to the Administrative Tribunal to decide. The bench came to the finding after noting that the disciplinary proceedings initiated against Thomas were quashed by the high court and no judicial proceedings were pending against her. It said the Kerala Service Rules allow the state government to withhold pension only when departmental proceedings or judicial proceedings are pending. 'In the absence of any pending departmental or judicial proceedings, the government cannot withhold pensionary benefits of Dr Ciza Thomas. 'We note that the government exercised its authority and power in flagrant violation of her fundamental rights and to harass her for taking up the office of the vice-chancellor at the instance of the chancellor, the then governor,' the bench said. The order came on a plea moved by Thomas seeking a direction to the government to disburse her regular pension, arrears and all other terminal benefits. According to the court, the only justification given by the government for the delay in disbursing the pensionary benefits was that it has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court against the dismissal of its special leave petition challenging a Kerala High Court order that set aside its show-cause notice to Thomas as part of the disciplinary action initiated against her. The action was initiated after she retired in March 2023 as the principal of the Government Engineering College, Thiruvananthapuram. The government was of the view that she violated the Government Servants Conduct Rules by assuming the office of the vice-chancellor. PTI HMP RC This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
