Ranchi: Dr Umesh Prasad, one of the doctors treating former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims), has been reinstated as unit in-charge of Rims medicine department, nine months after his removal from the post on allegations of forcing patients to buy medicines from a specific private shop. A departmental inquiry conducted into the allegations is yet to be completed, but a Rims official said no law has been violated in reinstating the doctor.
Rims sources, however, said such reinstatements of persons after they were removed by a disciplinary committee without formal approval of the governing council of the institute is in violation of the rules.
Prasad was reinstated on April 22, following a written order by Rims medical superintendent Dr Vivek Kashyap, who was acting on the verbal orders of state health minister Banna Gupta.
Rims director Dr D K Prasad removed Prasad from the post in July last year based on the findings of an inquiry into the allegations. A patient and his kin had accused Prasad of forcing them to buy medicines and other medical equipment from a specific private medical store located near Rims.
The inquiry was conducted by a three-member committee comprising RIMS director Singh, medical superintendent Kashyap and deputy medical superintendent Dr Sanjay Kumar. After finding the allegations true, the committee referred to the case to the governing body of the institute, which in turn recommended a departmental inquiry.
Dr Kashyap said, “A departmental inquiry was initiated against him (Prasad) but the officer designated to investigate the matter submitted the file to the health minister stating his inability to do so. Hence, the minister ordered verbally to reinstate Prasad.”
He added, “There is no violation of rules as the order will be concurred by the governing body in its next meeting. I have released the order after the minister has asked me to examine the file and give my comments. I have put forward my recommendations on the basis of which the minister exonerated Prasad.”
Sources in health department claimed that the reinstatement of Dr Prasad is because of his closeness to Lalu, for whom the state Congress is now lobbying for parole.
Rims sources, however, said such reinstatements of persons after they were removed by a disciplinary committee without formal approval of the governing council of the institute is in violation of the rules.
Prasad was reinstated on April 22, following a written order by Rims medical superintendent Dr Vivek Kashyap, who was acting on the verbal orders of state health minister Banna Gupta.
Rims director Dr D K Prasad removed Prasad from the post in July last year based on the findings of an inquiry into the allegations. A patient and his kin had accused Prasad of forcing them to buy medicines and other medical equipment from a specific private medical store located near Rims.
The inquiry was conducted by a three-member committee comprising RIMS director Singh, medical superintendent Kashyap and deputy medical superintendent Dr Sanjay Kumar. After finding the allegations true, the committee referred to the case to the governing body of the institute, which in turn recommended a departmental inquiry.
Dr Kashyap said, “A departmental inquiry was initiated against him (Prasad) but the officer designated to investigate the matter submitted the file to the health minister stating his inability to do so. Hence, the minister ordered verbally to reinstate Prasad.”
He added, “There is no violation of rules as the order will be concurred by the governing body in its next meeting. I have released the order after the minister has asked me to examine the file and give my comments. I have put forward my recommendations on the basis of which the minister exonerated Prasad.”
Sources in health department claimed that the reinstatement of Dr Prasad is because of his closeness to Lalu, for whom the state Congress is now lobbying for parole.
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