Dr Mohammed Haneef, may or may not accept the job offer made by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to work in the Health Department. But, can the chief minister make such offer, bypassing the recruitment process?
According to a highly placed source in the Health Department, “The CM cannot offer a job to anyone. Forget CM, even the President of the country cannot offer somebody a post in the government services, ignoring the recruitment procedures. If a candidate wishes to join government service he has to go through proper recruitment process”.
Mr Kumaraswamy, on Monday, offered a job in Health Department to Dr Haneef. Dr Haneef was thankful to the chief minister for his offer. However, he said, he has kept the option open.
Health Department recruits doctors on contract basis at the district level as well as holds direct recruitment at the state level.
The source said, whenever there are vacancies in any of the district, the concerned DHO (district health officer) invites applications and candidates are selected on the basis of merit to serve on contract basis.
Services of those selected under contract basis will be regularised after three years against a condition that they should serve in rural area for not less than 10 years.
Similar process
Similarly those appointed through direct recruitment has to serve in rural area for 10 years. “If Dr Haneef, an MBBS, wishes to join the Department he has to apply when applications are invited. There is no other way to get a job in the Department,” the source said.
Vacancy available
“Right now we have vacancies in Chamarajnagar and Raichur districts. Dr Haneef can apply when applications are invited to fill-up those vacancies. I doubt persons like Haneef, who worked in Australia to earn more money, will go to rural places to serve the common public,” he opined.
He also wondered as to why should Haneef be offered a post.
“He was facing charges of supporting terrorists and he returned after he was absolved of all charges. Can it be a qualification to get an offer of job in Health Department,” he asked.