RIMS Director Prof Sekharjit demoted : Prof Arun Kumar assumes charge of RIMS Director
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 26 2014: RIMS Director Professor Sekharjit has been relieved of his duties and in his place Head of Department, Orthopaedics Prof Chongtham Arun Kumar has been given the charge of RIMS Director.

Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (North East Section), Deputy Secretary Ishwar Singh issued an order to this effect on Monday.

However, Prof Sekharjit refused to abdicate his position contending that the Ministry's order was dubious.

Nonetheless, Prof Arun Kumar took charge of RIMS Director on his own.

As per the order issued by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Arun Kumar would look after the duties of the Director until further order.

Speaking to media persons this morning, Prof Arun Kumar said that he would work to improve the hospital's infrastructure apart from creating patient-friendly environment.

A view of RIMS administrative block; new Director Prof Arun Kumar (Up) and demoted Prof Sekharjit

"When I reached office, he (Prof Sekharjit) was also there but he refused to hand over his post on the ground that the Ministry's order did not have the President's approval.

Subsequently, I took charge of RIMS Director on my own", said Prof Arun Kumar.

On being contacted through telephone, the Ministry reportedly directed Prof Arun Kumar to take all the charges and responsibilities of the RIMS Director.

Later, Prof Arun Kumar dispatched a letter to the Ministry informing that he has taken over charge of RIMS Director.

Earlier, Prof Arun Kumar held the post of RIMS Superintendent for around one year and there are around two years and a half before his superannuation.

Incidentally, Prof Sekharjit was the Head of Department, Urology before he was appointed as Director.

Since he assumed charge of RIMS Director, the medical institute hit newspapers headlines regularly for all the wrong reasons.

Sekharjit now demoted, is facing CBI investigation and if he cannot defend himself, he may face punishment according to law.

According to some senior Professors of RIMS, there are 12 allegations of wrongdoings against Prof Sekharjit.

Extremely unhappy with the manner Sekharjit was administering the medical institute, RIMS Teachers and Medical Officers Association forwarded all the 12 allegations to the Union Health Ministry.

The allegations include a case pertaining to purchase of 38 dental chairs against the recommendation for purchasing 34 dental chairs.

Apart from the additional number of dental chairs, the dental chairs were purchased at Rs 3.75 lakh each while they actually cost just Rs 1.5 lakh per piece.

Against due advertisement published for recruitment of 71 staff nurses in 2012, 115 staff nurses were appointed without approval of the Health Ministry.

Dr Sekharjit's wife Dr Damayenti who was Chairperson of Hostel Development Committee sanctioned Rs 12 lakh for development of gardens in hostels but no gardens were constructed.

Again, the appointment order of RIMS Medical Superintendent issued by the Health Ministry was kept in abeyance for several months.

The matter was deliberated in the Manipur Legislative Assembly and it proved to be a major fillip to the Health Ministry's efforts to take up punitive actions against Director Sekharjit, said the senior Professors.

On the pretext that medical officers who were 62 years old could not hold administrative posts, many Heads of Departments who were 62 years old were demoted and junior officers were appointed in their place.

This created a situation where the senior doctors should address their juniors as 'Sir' .

This arrangement deeply hurt the sentiment and dignity of many senior medical officers and some of them even took voluntary retirement.

Now Dr Sekharjit has been demoted and he should return to Urology Department.

He should now address Director Dr Ch Arun Kumar as Sir or if he feels ignominious, Dr Sekharjit should resign, the senior Professors added.

Meanwhile a well placed source informed that the Prime Minister's Office sought a report from Intelligence Bureau on Prof Sekharjit's activities a couple of months back.