JOIN US This has been the outcome of an RTI activist’s application to the Karnataka Information Commission (KIUC).
Despite the government order, 40 of the 75 doctors from the Health and Family Welfare Department continue to remain in their posts at the palike, casting doubts over the reasons they put forth to get their deputation extended.
The doctors’ deputation was reportedly extended at the “request” of former BBMP commissioners S Subramanya and Bharath Lal Meena “to put off the repatriation of the doctors” in view of the rise in infectious diseases across the City and the dearth of doctors in the Palike.” The request letters were dispatched on December 4, 2008, and May 30, 2009, by the two commissioners respectively. As recently as last week, the lobbying doctors and Palike Commissioner H Siddaiah held discussions on the issue. The commissioner refused to yield to “political” pressure applied on him, according to a BBMP source.
In an application on September 9, 2008, RTI activist S Amaresh wanted to know the reasons for the doctors’ deputation to the BBMP and the reasons for the failure to revert them to their original postings after the expiry of their deputation period, as required under the KCS Rules.
Amaresh had sought the information from the Health and Family Welfare Department. In its response on September 30 2008, the department said the information could not be retrieved as there were no files with them pertaining to the doctors on deputation at the BBMP.
Amaresh then filed an appeal with the KIC for wrongfully suppressing facts and was awarded the first hearing on October 10, 2008. Dissatisfied with the department’s response, the commission issued summons on December 22, 2008, to the director, administrator, commissioner and the under secretary of the health department asking them to explain about the “missing” files.
On February 9, 2009, the department admitted that the records could be retrieved and that it had decided to recall all the doctors on deputation from across the State, including those to the BBMP. It is said that since 2009, the department had failed to recall their personnel from the palike, despite repeated assurances to the information commission.
Finally on January 4, 2011, the commission made the special officer to the chief minister, Lingraju, who was in the commission in connection with another application, a party to the matter. Lingraju took up the issue with the State government and finally issued an order dated on March 31, 2011, to repatriate 198 doctors, including 75 medical practitioners, at the BBMP back to the Health and Family Welfare Department. However, 40 of them continue in the BBMP.