Health department's transfer policy under scanner

The transfer of a doctor two times in four months has brought under the scanner the transfer policy of the health department.

Dr Jasvir Singh, who is the district health officer at the civil surgeon's office in Ludhiana, has now been transferred to ESI Hospital at Phagwara as senior medical officer.

Earlier, he was appointed as the district health officer of Jalandhar in September 2012 and then he was transferred to Ludhiana as district health officer in November 2012, but now once again he had been transferred and the people are raising questions on it.

General secretary of Punjab Ice Cream Association Jatinderpal Singh said, "I had never seen an understanding officer like Dr Jasvir Singh. He never tried to show during meetings that he is a high official. I feel the city had earlier not got any officer like him in the health department. I do not understand why he has been transferred."

Caterer Harjeet Singh, who was given the contract to prepare food for the President and the Prime Minister during their recent visits to Punjab Agricultural University here, said, "I have met Dr Jasvir Singh twice at the PAU. Dr Jasvir Singh has performed his duty well and is very cooperative. I do not know that he has been transferred, but he is a good officer."

When contacted, Dr Jasvir Singh said he did not know the reason for his transfer, but had been relieved from the office of district health officer Ludhiana.

Director, health and family welfare, Dr Ashok Nayar failed to explain the reason behind the transfer of Dr Jasvir Singh within two months of his posting here.

"I do not know the exact reason behind the transfer. May be he had requested for it," Nayar said.

He further showed ignorance over the transfer policy like in how much or because of what reasons a doctor could be transferred.

Health minister Madan Mohan Mittal said generally they transfer an official when somebody requests them for it. He said he did not know the actual reason why the doctor was transferred twice in four months.

He further added that nobody had approached him to cancel the transfer orders of Dr Jasvir Singh.

On being asked about the transfer policy, he showed ignorance about the transfer rules.