SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has terminated the probation of Dr Saima Nanda, Consultant Surgeon at District Hospital Budgam, and discharged her from the J&K Health & Family Welfare (Gazetted) Service with effect from March 1, 2024, citing prolonged unauthorised absence from duty.
The Health and Medical Education Department issued the order on October 6, 2026, under Rule 21(1) of the J&K Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956, read with Article 128 of the J&K Civil Service Regulations, Volume-I.
Dr Nanda had been appointed as Consultant Surgeon through Government Order No. 303-JK(HME) of 2022 dated May 17, 2022, and posted at District Hospital Budgam.
According to the government order, she was sanctioned 30 days’ earned leave from January 30, 2024, and was required to resume duty on March 1, 2024. However, the Medical Superintendent, District Hospital Budgam, reported that she did not return after the leave expired and remained absent from March 1, 2024.
An explanation notice issued on March 13, 2024, directed her to resume duty within three days and explain her absence. The order states that she neither joined duty nor submitted a response to the notice.
The Medical Superintendent subsequently reported her continued absence through communications dated March 25 and April 23, 2024, and sought action under the applicable rules. The prolonged absence was also reported to have affected patient care in the Surgical Department, where only one Consultant Surgeon was available.
The Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir, issued a further show-cause notice on June 6, 2024, directing Dr Nanda to resume duty within five days. She was warned that failure to do so would be treated as an indication that she was not interested in continuing in government service and could lead to disciplinary proceedings under Article 128 of the J&K Civil Service Regulations.
In her reply dated June 25, 2024, Dr Nanda attributed her absence to personal circumstances, stating that her mother-in-law had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer and had undergone multiple surgeries requiring prolonged treatment outside the Union Territory. She said she was the only available attendant to accompany her and sought sympathetic consideration on humanitarian grounds.
However, the government order states that she did not subsequently resume duty. The latest status, reported by the Medical Superintendent and conveyed by the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir, on February 3, 2026, showed that she continued to remain absent and had not provided any further justification acceptable under the rules.
The Administrative Department later issued another show-cause notice on June 3, 2026, asking her to explain her continued absence and show cause why action should not be taken under Rule 21(1) of the J&K Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956, read with Article 128.
According to the order, Dr Nanda submitted her latest response through email and through the Medical Superintendent, District Hospital Budgam, in July 2026. Instead of expressing willingness to resume government service, she requested the competent authority to consider her representation sympathetically and accept her resignation at the earliest.
After examining her service record, period of absence, notices and explanations, the government concluded that she had failed to satisfactorily complete the prescribed period of probation.
The government consequently terminated her probation and discharged her from the J&K Health & Family Welfare (Gazetted) Service with effect from March 1, 2024, the date from which she had proceeded on unauthorised absence.
