Agencies

JAMMU: The Crime Branch Kashmir has registered a case in 30-year old fraud case, wherein a Medical Officer of Indian System of Medicine (ISM), had drawn salary as a Government teacher for more than 7 years, when he was pursuing Bachelors in Unani Medicine in Andhra Pradesh.

As per details, Dr Shabir Ahmad Sheikh (Gaffari), Medical Officer ISM was booked in a fraud case registered vide FIR No. 16/2020 under RPS 420 by the Crime Branch of Jammu and Kashmir Police. The Crime Branch registered a case after preliminary inquiry was carried out on a complaint, which was lodged before IG Crime who directed for verification of the complaint. The accused doctor had drawn salary as a regular teacher for more than 7 years from Narbal zone of Education Department in district Budgam, while pursuing regular BUMS Degree from Government Nizamia Tibbia College Hyderabad (AP). The enquiry conducted by a committee at Directorate of ISM in 2018 had established the fraud committed by accused doctor and had recommended action as warranted under rules.

The then higher ups in Directorate of ISM and Health and Medical Education Department at Civil Secretariat, instead of acting against accused doctor, elevated him as Nodal Officer ISM, Government Unani Medical College Ganderbal Kashmir vide Govt order No. 156 HME of 2018, dated 23-02-2018, despite being junior most Medical Officer among the cadre.

The Departmental inquiry report suggested that he was appointed teacher in the Education Department in May 1989 and was in the department upto 1999 and had drawn salary till July 1997. The report further stated that without tendering resignation from the Education Department and as per pay-drawal certificate issued by ZEO Narbal vide no. ZEO/Estt/N/18/10534 dated 26-09-2018, he continued to draw monthly salary regularly till 08/1997.

The report revealed that Dr Shabir Ahmad Sheikh had sent a correspondence to the Chief Education Officer Budgam (dated 10-09-1998) requesting him that he may be treated as regular teacher in district Budgam, when he was already working in the ISM. As per the salary statement obtained from ZEO Narbal, he has drawn last salary amounting to Rs 4055 for the month of July 1997. But in his statement to the inquiry committee, he informed them that he was appointed teacher in the Education Department and had no records.`