SRINAGAR: In a recent surprise inspection conducted by the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Shopian at the District Hospital, authorities found that the majority of the hospital’s staff were absent from duty without authorisation. The inspection, carried out on November 13, revealed that only 17 out of the hospital’s 198 employees were present, with 181 members of the staff, including doctors, medical officers, paramedics, and ministerial staff, missing from duty.
The administration expressed concern over the absenteeism, highlighting that such irregular attendance by essential healthcare staff causes significant inconvenience to the public. In a previous circular dated November 12, 2024, the administration had warned that unauthorised absences would lead to a deduction of one day’s salary, which would be credited to the District Red Cross Society Shopian.
Following the inspection, the Deputy Commissioner ordered the Medical Superintendent of District Hospital Shopian to seek an explanation from the absent employees. The notice emphasised that the negligence and unprofessional behaviour demonstrated by the absentees were unbecoming of public servants under the rules and regulations of Jammu and Kashmir’s Civil Service Rules (CSRs).
The absentee employees have been given three days to submit an explanation. If they fail to provide a satisfactory response, disciplinary action, including salary deductions, will be taken. Additionally, the District Treasury Officer has been instructed to withhold the salaries of all absent employees for the month of November 2024 until further notice.
