The additional chief medical officer in charge of Chamoli district hospital has been suspended after he was accused of hitting a motorcycle carrying two people with his SUV.
An inquiry into the incident showed that Dr Mohammad Shah Hasan was allegedly inebriated, officials said, adding that Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami directed the Health Department to take action against him.
Videos of the incident, which took place at 1.45 pm on Saturday, showed a black Scorpio dragging a motorcycle forward after hitting it. The two people on the motorcycle, identified as Sanyam Chaudhary and Gaurav Kumar, sustained serious injuries, according to an FIR registered on the basis of a complaint filed by Gaurav’s father.
The complaint said, “Dr Shah Hasan, driving recklessly, negligently, and under the influence of alcohol, hit my son’s Pulsar bike head-on in front of Monal Hotel with his Scorpio, and dragged the bike for around 100 metres with his vehicle. Both my son and Gaurav sustained serious injuries. Gaurav, being in a serious condition, was referred from Rudraprayag Government Hospital to Srinagar Base Hospital (in Pauri Garhwal).” The FIR is under BNS sections 125 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 281 (rash driving or riding on a public way).
Officials said that after the incident, an inquiry was ordered and the report was received by the Director General of Medical Health and Family Welfare on Sunday. The report said that Hasan was allegedly inebriated. His conduct was found to be violative of the Uttarakhand Government Servants Conduct Rules, 2002, officials said.
The office of Chief Minister Dhami said that he ordered the Uttarakhand Health Department to take disciplinary action against Hasan by suspending him with immediate effect.
The order by Health Secretary Dr R Rajesh Kumar said, “Considering the serious condition of the injured individuals, and taking cognizance under Rule 4(2) of the Uttarakhand Government Servants Conduct Rules, 2002, and under Rule 4 of the Uttarakhand Appeal and Discipline Rules, 2003, the Hon’ble Governor hereby graciously approves the suspension of Dr Mohd. Shah Hasan, Additional Chief Medical Officer, Chamoli (in public interest) for the incident at Tilani, District Rudraprayag. The Hon’ble Governor further grants approval for initiating an inquiry into the matter against Dr. Mohd. Shah Hasan…under the relevant provisions of Rule 4 of the Uttarakhand Appeal and Discipline Rules, 2003.”
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Rajesh Kumar said there was a clear violation of conduct in this case, which the government has taken very seriously. “Indiscipline, irresponsible behaviour, or neglect of service duties at any level will not be tolerated in the department. The incident is not only tragic for the affected families, but also damages the credibility of the entire health system,” he said.
During the suspension period, Hasan will be posted at the Rudraprayag district headquarters, from where he will fully cooperate in the departmental investigation.
