Controversial AIIMS dy director transferred out after seven years

The seat of Deputy Director (Administration) of All India Institute of Medical Sciences is set to see a new face after seven years.

The current DDA Vineet Chawdhry will be replaced by joint secretary in the Union ministry of health and family welfare R S Shukla.

Chawdhry had a controversial stint in AIIMS with a number of alleged charges of corruption against him.

A section of the faculty has brought issues of corruption to light and demanded his expulsion from the institute. But he has been getting extensions beyond five years of regular term as DDA.

Sources in the ministry of health have confirmed the news.

“We have been receiving a number of complaints against the DDA. Moreover, Chawdhry, the IAS from Himachal Pradesh cadre has finished seven-year term in central government,” said a source.

“The DDA had personally requested health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad for an extension of his term, which was denied.” The source added that the health ministry has decided to appoint an IAS from West Bengal cadre R S Shukla as the DDA.

An official said approval by the Prime Minister’s Office is awaited. Shukla is expected to take charge by first week of December.

The official added that Chawdhry tried to continue his stint in central government asking for a post in Indian council of medical research and other such places. But his requests were turned down.

Recently, an RTI revealed that seven cases are pending against him in the central vigilance commission. A case of corruption during Commonwealth Games is being inquired by the health ministry.

Many irregularities have been pointed out by faculty members of the hospital for the past three years, especially with regard to rampant construction in campus.

He has been alleged of making money through such construction work.

DDA used to double as chief vigilance officer (CVO). Chawdhry investigated all cases of financial and other irregularities, including those against him.

Sources said a parliamentary committee looking into matters of AIIMS decided in May 2012 to separate the post of CVO from DDA in light of numerous charges against the DDA himself. Thereafter, Sanjiv Chaturvedi, an IAS of Haryana cadre was appointed as CVO in August.

Two months after the appointment of the new CVO, Chawdhry wrote a letter to the director of AIIMS R C Deka, a copy of which is with Deccan Herald, asking to keep CVO’s appointment in abeyance. The letter was not processed further, bringing relief to many in the hospital.

“The CVO was asking tough questions in the institute to various post holders. This must have created discomfiture,” said the source.