Neyaz Elahi
Srinagar, July 31, KNT: The ‘gag’ order issued by Principal Government Medical College Srinagar has not gone down well. Anger is brewing among medicos and officers. Doctors who talked to news agency Kashmir News Trust are terming this order as ‘gag’ simply to shut the mouth of hospital employees.
“This gag order is to cover her (Principal’s) mismanagement and inefficiencies. She doesn’t want any information related to Covid-19 should be leaked. Patients are suffering and this Principal doesn’t want any doctor or official to highlight those,” said a medico wishing not to be named.
Pertinently, Principal, Government Medical College Srinagar, Prof Samia Rashid has issued a formal circular, a copy of which lies with KNT asking employees not to share Covid-19 related information on social media.
“It has been observed that the officers, officials, faculty members and doctors are divulging some official information related to Covid-19 pandemic on the social media without prior approval of the competent authority. It is bad and warrants action under the Standing Jammu and Kashmir Service Conduct Rules. Such abhorrent action of the officials, faculty members and doctors is highly objectionable and is blatant violation of the instructions and orders conveyed by the Administrative Department of Jammu and Kashmir from time to time,” the circular reads.
The circular concludes with a warning that: “It is impressed upon all the officials, faculty members and doctors working in the establishment of Government Medical College Srinagar and its associated hospitals to refrain from such unlawful and unwarranted action. Henceforth, any official, faculty member and doctor, whosoever, found violating the set norms, instructions and orders issued by the Administrative Department Government of Jammu and Kashmir and uploads any official information relative to Covid-19 pandemic shall be viewed seriously and action as warranted under relevant rules (IT Act-Amendment 2020) shall be initiated against the delinquent officer, official, faculty members or doctor.”
Doctors who don’t want to be named have criticized this circular saying it is simply a gag order aimed at to clip the wings of those who want to highlight and show the ugly side of the GMC associated hospitals. (KNT)
