BHSA releases CD of sting on Purnia DM

PURNIA: Even as bureaucrats and government doctors are at loggerheads, controversy between Purnia DM and civil surgeon (CS), has touched a new low with the Bihar Health Service Association (BHSA) and Bihar Administrative Service Association (BASA) throwing their weight behind their respective local top bosses in the district.
As the war of attrition between DM Rajesh Kumar and CS Dr S N Jha continues, BHSA, in a pre-emptive strategy, has dropped a bombshell by releasing the CD of its sting operation where the OSD to DM has been caught demanding a bribe of Rs 25 lakh from the CS and DPM ( District Programme Manager) on behalf of the DM.
Divisional secretary of BHSA Dr S K Verma while confirming the release of CD, told TOI on Thursday that the Purnia issue involving the insult and harassment of Purnia CS will be on the top of the agenda of its state unit at its meeting to be held in Patna on April 5. CM Nitish Kumar and principal secretary health, who are likely to attend BHSA's state-level meeting, will be apprised of everything, he said. He said BHSA's state general secretary Dr Ajay Kumar has already given a call to its members to stand behind the Purnia CS and frustrate all attempts on the part of the bureaucracy to frame him in the case.
On the other hand, Purnia unit of BASA , at its emergency meeting here on Thursday under the chairmanship of Dhananjoy Kumar, has not just thrown its weight behind DM Rajesh Kumar, but also rubbished all charges and insinuations levelled against him by the CS. They also accused the CS of never extending his co-operation to the district authorities, a senior deputy collector said.
In the meantime, CS Jha, who has already responded to explanation sought by the DM, told TOI that so far as the question of allotment of nearly Rs 4 crore, which was at the centre-stage of the controversy, was concerned, he had only adhered to the direction of executive director (ED), state health society, given to him during a video conference and in accordance with the norms laid by the department. " I have not flouted any norms," he said. Besides, he also claimed the DM, wreaking vengeance on him, had sought explanation and back dated it on March 31 ,though the same was served on him on April 1. " It only shows his mindset," he said.
Meanwhile, the DM has sent all the documents and files relating to the current episode to the state authorities, according to official sources. The DM could not be contacted.