Jharkhand HC quashes dismissal of former Jamshedpur civil surgeon

Saryu Roy had raised objection against the doctor 

Jamshedpur, April 3: The Jharkhand High Court has quashed the Jharkhand government’s decision to dismiss former Jamshedpur civil surgeon Dr A.K Lal.

During the hearing in the court of the Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court, Sanjaya Mishra it was said that the government took a long time in taking the decision. The decision to sack a person when it is time for retirement is absolutely wrong. If the government had to take any action, it should have been done earlier. After this the government’s decision was repealed.

Dr A.K Lal had contested the elections in 2005 from Bihar’s Jhanjhapur assembly on a Samajwadi Party ticket. These things had come to the fore in the investigation. Although then he was on the post of Filaria Officer in the district. This disclosure came when MLA Saryu Rai asked this question in the assembly.

It is well known that a person cannot contest elections while in government service. Either he will resign and contest the election or the government will take action against him for contesting the election without resigning.

Saryu Rai asked a question in this matter whether it is true that a person working in government service contesting assembly elections without accepting resignation is a disciplinary misconduct according to Civil Services Conduct Rule, for which the government takes legal action against him.

Saryu Rai posed another question whether it is true that Dr Arvind Kumar Lal, the then East Singhbhum civil surgeon, while being a medical officer of Potka in government service, had contested the Bihar Legislative Assembly elections in 2005 on a Samajwadi Party ticket from Jhanjharpur Assembly Constituency in Bihar and fetched 2737 votes, in response to which the government has said that it is a partially acceptable question.

The government has said that Dr A. K Lal was posted as medical officer, Additional Primary Health Center, Jerang Vaishali, Bihar between  19 July 1997 to 13 December 2006.

During the above period, Dr. Lal contested the Bihar Legislative Assembly elections in the year 2005 on Samajwadi Party ticket from Jhanjharpur assembly constituency of Bihar.

On this, Saryu Rai has asked the question whether it is correct that the government has not taken any action against Dr Arvind Kumar Lal, despite this matter being brought to its notice, on the contrary, he has been promoted to the post of civil surgeon. In response, the government said that this question is unacceptable.

The government has told that the fact is that departmental action has been taken against Dr. Arvind Kumar Lal by departmental resolution number 751 (8) dated October 21, 2019 after the matter came to notice. In the said departmental proceedings, action is under process on the termination of service of Dr Lal after reviewing the inquiry report received from the departmental Inquiry Officer.

Let us tell you that when Dr. AK Lal contested the election of Samajwadi Party, the present Health Minister Banna Gupta was in the Samajwadi Party during that time.