The Union Health Ministry has issued a notice to the former head of the biochemistry department at GB Pant Hospital in Delhi to explain her unauthorised absence from duty for around three years while drawing salary during this period — the doctor’s social media profile describes her as a “filmmaker” based in Canada.
Records reviewed by The Indian Express show the notice was issued to Dr Manju Subberwal on July 28, asking why action should not be initiated for non-compliance with rules and regulations related to government officials availing leave.
It also asked why the unauthorised absence should not be treated as a break in service, and why allowance and pay disbursed during this period not be recovered.
Sources said the Union Health Ministry has also sought details from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office for information on Subberwal’s visits to India during the period under scrutiny.
Besides, sources said, the hospital has prepared a chargesheet in the case, which will be submitted to the Ministry. Subberwal was removed from the position of HoD nearly a month ago, they said.
GB Pant Hospital is a Delhi government-run institution and the head of its biochemistry department is tasked with oversight of laboratories, and procurement of related equipment and chemicals.
Subberwal was among doctors at the hospital from the Central Health Services. Under rules, they are entitled every year to 10 days of earned leave, 10 days of casual leave and 30 more of teaching leave, split into two parts of 15 days each in six months.
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The approved maximum study leave is 36 months for a post-graduate certification course. Those who avail this leave must sign a bond that they will serve the Government for at least five years more after returning.
No one can proceed on leave without sanction, the rules state.
Nikhil Kumar, Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Delhi government, and Dr Abid Jilani, Medical Director, did not respond to requests from The Indian Express for comment. The Indian Express also reached out to Subberwal on the email and phone number listed in government records — there was no response to the email and the phone was switched off.
According to sources, the action against Subberwal is rooted in a complaint filed in May by an employee of GIPMER, the medical college associated with the hospital. The complaint alleged that Subberwal went to Canada to pursue a filmmaking course in 2022 and was drawing a full salary.
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It also alleged that she “hatched a criminal conspiracy with another doctor from her department, who was signing all official papers on her behalf as head of the biochemistry department in her absence, without the approval of the competent authority”.
According to the complaint, this caused “financial fraud/ loss” to the exchequer totalling about Rs 50 lakh.
Following the complaint, sources said, hospital authorities notified the Union Health Ministry. “The issue came to light in May when salaries were being disbursed to faculty heads. Officials found a major lapse in her attendance, which had been going on for nearly three years. She would show up at the hospital for just a few days each year. Once, her husband also came to give back-dated leaves. After the matter came to light, she was removed as head of the department, and her salary was put on hold,” a senior doctor at the hospital said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
On her Instagram account, Subberwal describes herself as a telly awards winner, filmmaker, writer, editor and medical doctor.
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Her LinkedIn profile shows she pursued a certification course in animation from July 2019 to December 2020 from an online school — and that she pursued a Bachelor of Creative Arts degree from the Toronto Film School, and specialised in cinematography and film/ video production from April 2022 to April 2025.
Subberwal’s IMDB page shows she has made three films: Colors (2024), Totka (2021), Yours Faithfully (2019). In all three films, she listed herself as writer, director and producer.
