Representative image of a stethoscope
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The Union Health Ministry has issued a notice to a doctor for being absent from duty for the past 3 years without proper authorisation, all the while she was drawing her government salary.
According to a report by the Indian Express, Dr Manju Subberwal, who was heading the biochemistry department at GB Pant Hospital in Delhi, has been absent from duty for the past three years. However, her social media profile describes her as a “filmmaker” based in Canada, raising questions regarding her prolonged absence.
The notice, which was issued to Subberwal on July 28, asked her to explain why her unauthorised absence should not be treated as her forfeiting her services and why she should not be required to return the salary and allowance which she drew over the past three years.
As a former head of biochemistry department at GB Pant Hospital—a Delhi government-run institution—Dr Subberwal was tasked with oversight of laboratories, and procurement of related equipment and chemicals.
Under the prescribed rules, doctors are entitled to 10 days of earned leave, 10 days of casual leave and 30 more of teaching leave, split into two parts of 15 days each in six months. No one can avail any leave without prior approval.
Hence, the notice also sought an explanation on why should she be spared from disciplinary action.
The publication reported that a a complaint was filed against Subberwal in May by an employee of GIPMER, the medical college associated with the hospital. The complaint alleged that the former head of biochemistry department went to Canada to a pursue a course in filmmaking in 2022. However, she was still drawing a full salary.
The complaint also alleged that she made a deal with another doctor to head the department in her absence without consulting the concerned authorities. This led to the “financial fraud/ loss” to the exchequer of about Rs 50 lakh.
The issue came to light in May when salaries were being disbursed to faculty heads. The authorities at the hospital noted a major lapse in her attendance. After digging into the matter, they discovered she would show up at hospital for a few days each year. One of the doctors also said that once her husband also went to the hospital to give back-dated leaves.
After this, her salary was put on hold and she was removed as the head of department.
On social media pages, Subberwal calls herself a "Telly Awards Winner, Filmmake, Writer, Editor and Medical Doctor. According to IMDb, she has directed, written, and produced three films: Colors (2024), Totka (2021), Yours Faithfully (2019).