Delhi hospital fire tragedy LG revokes OSD of Health Minister
Delhi hospital fire tragedy LG revokes OSD of Health Minister
Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena of Delhi suspended R N Das, the Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj’s Officer on Special Duty (OSD), on Wednesday. Das was allegedly “involved in irregular and illegal registration of private nursing homes,” including the one in Vivek Vihar where a fire claimed the lives of six babies, according to officials.
Bharadwaj responded to the news by saying that the LG was targeting advisors, consultants, and other individuals who the AAP government had appointed in an attempt to seriously disrupt departmental operations and leave the “offices empty.”
Das declined to comment further, stating that he did not have much information regarding his ban.
“The Hon’ble Lt. Governor, Delhi, in the exercise of the powers conferred by sub-rule (1) of Rule-10 of the CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965, hereby places the said Dr. R.N. Das, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Hon’ble Minister (Health), GNCTD, under suspension with immediate effect,” the Vigilance Directorate stated in its order on Wednesday.
The Lieutenant Governor has directed the Directorate to carry out a “urgent comprehensive enquiry” into nursing home registration under the Delhi Nursing Home Registration Act, 1953 and Rules, the Directorate further stated in a letter to the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB). The ACB was also instructed to report on any action taken by June 5.
The hospital fire disaster revealed the criminal negligence, mismanagement, and cooperation of Health Department employees, as stated by the LG, which on Tuesday mandated a comprehensive ACB probe into the licensing and oversight of all private assisted living facilities in the city.
“Reported misconduct regarding the unauthorised and illegal running of Jyoti Nursing Home, Shahadra beyond the valid registration period when he was also Medical Superintendent of Nursing Home Cell is the immediate cause for placing the officer under suspension,” an official stated.
Officials claimed that the May 25 fire at the Baby Care Center in Vivek Vihar is the latest example of the Nursing Home Cell’s callousness.
An official stated, “In this instance as well, Dr. R.N. Das had approved the Nursing Home’s registration without bothering to find out the status of any ongoing litigation or the undertaking made by the Nursing Home with regard to various statutory compliances, including fire safety.”
The official said that Das, who was Satyendra Jain’s OSD when he was the health minister, had “clearly abused his powers” based on these incidents.
Das was employed in the Nursing Home Cell from January 10, 2011 to May 18, 2015, and from January 31, 2018, until September 2, 2022.
According to reports, the newborn hospital in Vivek Vihar continued to operate after its license expired. Das has been charged by the BJP of being involved in the hospital’s registration procedure.
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