Graft charges against new DG of health services

The top officer appointed by the Union Health Ministry for Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) on Tuesday has two criminal cases pending in the Delhi government's Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) over irregularities in making purchases in a Delhi government hospital.

Dr Promila Gupta, who was holding the post of additional director general of health services (ADGHS), was promoted as DGHS on Tuesday by the MOHFW. While the previous DGHS -- Jagdish Prasad was removed from the post over a vigilance inquiry, the new one is also facing similar charges under Delhi government's vigilance department.

"Before appointing any officer, we get vigilance clearance from all the departments. But we are not aware of the two FIRs against her," said Dr Alok Saxena, Joint Secretary, MOHFW. Saxena is also the Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO).

The office of the DGHS is the technical wing of the health ministry and is responsible for implementing various programmes to control malaria, Japanese encephalitis, tuberculosis, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and cancer, among others.

According to the sources Dr Gupta, who was deputed in the Delhi government for few years, faced corruption charges while she was the medical superintendent of the Aruna Asaf Ali Hospital. An FIR was registered by the ACB under sections 13 (1) d, 13 (2), 420, 468, 471, 201 and 120 B of the Indian Penal Code in the matter of irregularities in purchase of medical items. The ACB has still not given a clean chit to her.

"It is surprising that the government has appointed a doctor in such a top post without even checking with the vigilance department. The ACB is still investigating the matter," said a senior Delhi government official.

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain was also not informed about the cases. Confirming the development, a Delhi government spokesperson said. "The file was never put up to the health minister nor was he aware about the cases. No services related matter are now sent to the ministers after the Delhi High Court ruling in April 2016." Even Delhi government's Vigilance Minister Manish Sisodia is not aware about the case.

The Directorate of Vigilance, under the Delhi government, had come out with a list of 38 doctors facing vigilance inquiry on December 15, 2017. Dr Gupta was also mentioned on the list.

Sources said that the decision to appoint the top officer is taken by the Appointment Committee of Cabinet (ACC) which is headed by the Prime Minister Office (PMO).

The former DGHS, Dr Prasad is facing vigilance case for seeking favour from a selection panel for one of his juniors. Dr Prasad had also dragged the Ministry to the Central Administrative Tribunal against its order that had stated that professionals under the Central Health Scheme will serve in non-administrative posts between the age of 62 and 65 years.

Even after repeated calls and messages, Dr Gupta did not respond to the query raised by DNA.