Fake certificate: Civil Surgeon suspended, another demoted

Chandigarh/Ludhiana, June 18

The state government has suspended the Kapurthala Civil Surgeon and demoted the Ludhiana Civil Surgeon, while issuing him a chargesheet, for “using fake disability certificates” to get promotions.

The Tribune, in a reporton November 5 last year, had highlighted the complaints regarding three civil surgeons — Dr Balwant Singh, Dr Arun Kumar Guptaand Dr Parvinderpal Singh, who served in Kapurthala, Sangrur and Ludhiana, respectively — being promoted on the basis of fake disability certificates.

The government had ordered a review of their disability status from PGI, Chandigarh, and Government Medical College, Patiala.

The reports confirmed that the disability stated in the certificates of the three civil surgeons was inflated.

On June 13, the Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Satish Chandra suspended Dr Balwant Singh from the post of Kapurthala Civil Surgeon and posted him at the head office in Chandigarh.

Ludhiana Civil Surgeon Dr Parwinder Pal Singh Sidhu has been reverted to the post of Senior Medical Officer. Orders regarding his place of posting as the SMO will be released separately.

The third Civil Surgeon, Dr Arun Kumar Gupta, had superannuated early this year.

The orders mention that on March 15 last year, Dr Sidhu was appointed as Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana, and the Disability Commission, Punjab, received several complaints against him for wrongly using the disability quota.

His disability was found to be 23.34 per cent and hence he was not eligible for taking advantage of the disability quota promotion. Dr Sidhu had submitted a certificate of 45 per cent disability.

Dr Sidhu could not be contacted for comments. — TNS