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HC gives two weeks to govt to conclude probe

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 8/26/2015 12:08:20 AM

SRINAGAR, Aug 25: The High Court today granted two weeks to a news committee framed by the state government to conclude enquiry into allegations of selection of pharmacists (Dawasaaz) on fake certificates allegedly made by director Indian System of Medicine Dr Abdul Kabir Dar.
A division bench of the High Court headed by Chief Justice Narayanan Nadar Paul Vasanthakumar ordered the state government to complete the investigations into the allegations of selection of Dawasaaz within two week.
Earlier, the government informed the Court that a one member secretary level committee has been framed to probe the matter. On July 27, the Government had ordered a fresh enquiry into allegations of selection of pharmacists (Dawasaazs) on fake certificates allegedly made by director Indian System of Medicine Dr Abdul Kabir Dar. The enquiry was said to be conducted by Joint Director Planning who was asked to complete the probe within a week.
This was stated by advocate general Jehangir Iqbal Ganaie, before a division bench of the High Court headed by the Chief Justice Narayanan Nadar Paul Vasanthakumar, on August 17.
It may be recalled that on July 5, 2014 the High Court had asked health and medical education department and state vigilance organization to furnish records pertaining to enquires conducted into selection of pharmacists (Dawasaazs) in Indian System of Medicine (ISM) in the same matter.
A division bench of the High Court comprising of the then Chief Justice M M Kumar and Justice Hasnain Masoodi had passed the direction.
On May 24, 2014 the High Court had issued notices to the Government in the matter through Chief Secretary, Commissioner Secretary health and other officials of the ISM to respond to the pleas raised by the petitioner.
The director ISM Kabir Dar in connivance with the top officials of Directorate if ISM in 2008 had allegedly issued fake pharmacists diploma certificates to around 400 persons, who later got jobs under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scheme, the petitioners have informed. Pertinently, in July 2014 the then government promoted Dr Dar as Director General, ISM.
Senior advocate, Bashir Ahmad Bashir, who had appeared on behalf of the petitioner, had sought registration of corruption case against Director ISM. He also sought transfer of Director ISM’s immediately to prevent forging of the record until investigation into the matter is completed.
Bashir had submitted before the court that the certificates have been issued without making proper selection for training course of pharmacists.
He had also sought directions to the State Government to make legitimate selection of candidates for imparting Dawasaaz training to them through bonafide selection process.
In 2008 a list of 994 ‘blue eyed’ candidates was illegally nominated through backdoor means by the ISM Directorate for undergoing “Dawasaz” training. After a complaint was filed by some aggrieved candidates the Government cancelled the list vide Government order No: 121 HME (GR 0f 2008) dated October 17, 2008.
The backdoor selected candidates had filed a writ petition in High Court which was dismissed subsequently. However, the High Court directed Government to expeditiously frame and formulate the norms and procedure for making nominations for undergoing Dawasaz training course.
The Director ISM had allegedly again violated the Court orders and issued diploma certificates to people without any training institute established in J&K.