While AP Chief Minister is rooting for a corruption free governance, some officials of the medical and health department appear to be hell-bent on undoing what he is doing. Steeped in corruption and mired in scams, these officials are turning the APMSIDC and the corona control wings into a milch cow. A deeply upset and unhappy YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has reportedly ordered a comprehensive probe into the irregularities.
A high official in the APMSIDC is making money in the name of appointments, promotions and transfers in the department. Complaints galore poured in from other officials and even elected people’s representatives about the excesses of this official. Now, he is facing a vigilance probe.
The official’s corrupt practices have invited anger and strong opposition. Sources say that he has ended up with fat sums during the recent appointments, transfers and promotions. The vigilance probe shows that he has not shown all the vacancies during the counselling and filled them later by those who offered him huge amounts. Ineligible persons were given promotions, while those who fulfil all eligibility criteria have been left in the lurch. In departments such as biochemistry, eligible persons with MBBS qualification have been ignored and those with mere MSc degree have been given the posts. Each post was reportedly filled on payment of Rs 10 lakh.
What more? The officer has condoned officials who were accused of dereliction of duties. For instance one proffesor who is relative to a former TDP minister, who is a professor in Kurnool Medical College, hasn’t attended to the duties in years. This has been authenticated by college officials. Yet, his salary for the whole period has been sanctioned. There are allegations that he has appointed his agents across the state to collect money. One such middleman is the self-syled convener of a government doctors’ association, which has no official recognition. Sources say that even the health minister is upset that nothing moves in the DME’s office without paying a bribe
Now, a vigilance probe has been ordered into his misdeeds as Chief Minister has taken a serious view of the corruption in the department. He is said to have given a free hand to the probe officials and the latter have now called upon the victims to come forward and lodge complaints without any fear.