DOB fudging: SKIMS medico to face ‘premature retirement’

Srinagar, Feb 8 : A medico at the SK Institute of Medical Sciences Soura is likely to face ‘premature retirement’ as punishment for ‘manipulating his Date of Birth records with the ulterior motive to stay longer in service.’

According to a memo, copy of which is with Greater Kashmir, the SKIMS authorities have sought approval for ‘premature retirement’ of the former Medical Superintendent of the hospital Dr Syed Amin Tabish (presently under suspension) so that “it serves as deterrence for others and put at rest all speculations as the media is closely observing the stages of the case [Sic].”
The move comes after an inquiry committee—duly approved by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is the Chairman of the SKIMS Governing Body—indicted Tabish of “deliberately and mischievously manipulating his service book to record his date of birth as 30.3.1957 instead of 30.3.1956.”

Vide Order No. 104-SKIMS of 2012 Dated: September 22, 2012, the Government ordered sanction to recording of “actual DOB i.e. 30.3.1956 on the manipulated service book of Dr Syed Amin Tabish.” While Tabish was placed under suspension, albeit only after outcry over the issue, the Government had also initiated disciplinary proceedings against him.

As per Government Order No. 110 SKIMS of 2012 Dated: October 11, 2012, a three-member enquiry committee had been constituted to probe the matter. The Committee was headed by Prof Khurshid Iqbal, Dean Medical Faculty with Dr Gul Javid, Professor and Prof Muhammad Maqbool, HoD Radiotherapy, as member and member secretary respectively.

As per the Order, Dr Tabish was attached with the office of Director SKIMS till culmination of the disciplinary proceedings.
Fresh memo

The fresh memo reads that the enquiry report has now been received and the Committee has “finally established in toto the charge of manipulation of service book and other documents by the doctor.”

Referring to an amnesty given to state government employees in 2007 on the issue of DoB manipulation, the memo reads: “The state government had issued a circular in 2007 wherein the amnesty was extended to all such employees who had manipulated their service records. The circular was immediately circulated among all the employees of SKIMS and one faculty member also availed the amnesty on account of DoB. But in the instance case (of Dr Tabish), the doctor has failed to do so until he was caught through the medium of an RTI application.”

“The SKIMS administration has considered the case on the basis of not availing the amnesty and on available record verified by the Board of School Education and Government Medical College Srinagar, besides preparation of service book by the doctor with his own hand recording his DoB as 30.3.1956 on his personal bio-data form, is satisfied that the said doctor had with ulterior motives manipulated DOB to stay longer in service and for many other benefits,” the memo, which has been sent to the Chief Minister for approval, reads.

The memo adds: “By virtue of his misdeeds, the doctor has lost confidence, credibility to head a particular department, especially a responsible position. As such he qualifies for termination of services as per the GAD circular of 2007 for willfully manipulating DoB, particularly being himself part of the administration and holding a responsible position. In the normal course, he is likely to attain superannuation on 31.3.2016 by taking into account his original and authenticated DOB i.e 30.3.1956. However, keeping in view more than 30 years service and with a view that his family should not suffer, instead of terminating his services, it is recommended that minor penalty of premature retirement may be approved for imposition against the delinquent officer.”

Ends
SA/EN