Eye hospital director faces suspension over collecting bribe to issue disability certificate

CHENNAI: The Director of Medical Education has recommended the suspension of Dr K Sridhar, director and superintendent of Government Ophthalmic Hospital, Egmore, after he allegedly accepted to have received `200 to issue a disability certificate for a visually challenged person.

Arappor Iyakkam, an NGO, released a seven-minute video in which Dr Sridhar was seen demanding `500 from a visually challenged person as a fee to issue the certificate. “The committee conducted an inquiry and submitted its report. Sridhar denied that the voice in the video was his. We are checking the genuineness of the video. But I have recommended to the government his suspension and the inquiry is pending,” said Dr A Edwin Joe, Director of Medical Education.

While welcoming the move, Jayaram Venkatesan, convener of Arappor Iyakkam, said the Health department should file a complaint with DVAC as the doctor has admitted to having received the money. “They should not stop with suspension but should also dismiss him from service so that this will be a lesson for others,” Venkatesan said.