Govt promises action after students intensify agitation

Alleged harassment by GDCH Principal

SRINAGAR: As the protesting students in Government Dental College and Hospital are unrelenting in their agitation against a professor and its principal, the government said that it will act and will sort out the issue within two days.

Students of Government Dental College and Hospital at Shireen Bagh here are on a strike from the last six days demanding action against Prof Muhammad Mushtaq, who is the head of the Orthodontics Department, and also guide of postgraduate students.

The agitated students accuse Dr Mushtaq of harassing them and forcing to do his personal work, including car washing and ferrying his family members to the airport and children to school.
The students also alleged that the Dr Mushtaq forces them to do manual jobs at his private clinic in Land Mark Complex at Karanagar, even as all heads of the departments are banned from private practice as government pays them non practicing allowance.

The government had appointed Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Syed Abid Rasheed Shah to inquire into the allegations of the students.

The minister of Health and and Medical Education, Bali Bhagat told The News Now that he talked to the official on Tuesday about submitting the report.

“The DC must have completed the inquiry. I think he may have sent the report to my office today. I will take action in two days,” the minister said.

Asked about the college being run by a caretaker principal, Dr Reyaz Farooq, since 2004, the minister said, “You will see in two days what will happen. I am taking action within two days.”

State Vigilance Organization (SVO) in 2012 has registered registered an First Information Report (FIR) under FIR number 33/2012 under section 161 of Ranbir Penal Code of embezzlement and fraud against Dr. Reyaz Farooq for purchasing medical equipment for GDC Srinagar and GDC Jammu at exorbitant rates. And despite that he has been heading the GDC.

Meanwhile, doctors in Kashmir have sought immediate removal of the Principal to pave the way for the growth of the GDCH.

“We are astonished at how a person, who was given charge of the caretaker Principal in 2004, continues to be on this sacred chair. As per Supreme Court guidelines, government has to make a permanent arrangement for the post within months. The Principal has also been booked by the Vigilance Department of Kashmir in a criminal case. It is high time that he be removed from the post and allow the dental college to grow,” DAK president Dr Suhail Naik said.

Senior Executive DAK member, Dr Masood Rashid said because of “in charge system” Government Dental College Srinagar has been “turned into corruption safe house” and its pristine glory stands diluted.

Updated On 3/15/2018 10:58:49 AM
Updated On 3/15/2018 11:08:31 AM