IMPHAL, September 11: Dr S Sekharjit Singh who was relieved from duty as Director RIMS has claimed that his suspension order is not applicable and he is neither holding the post of Professor of Urology nor can he be posted as a professor which is at a lower rank.
Speaking at a press conference, Dr S Sekharjit said he deserves to be compensated for the time lost due to the unlawful order. He claimed no order of relieving duty can be applicable to the director.
He said he was relieved of duty as director on August 25, 2014 as a temporary arrangement to conduct investigations on some allegations.
He observed he is the first regular director appointed by the Central government with approval of the Appointment Committee of the Cabinet.
Counsels for Union Minister of HFW and RIMS admitted in the court that he has not been terminated and he still remains the regularly appointed Director (orders dated 29 Aug 2014 in WP(C) 638 of 2014), he continued.
Meanwhile, elaborating on the `illegality of his relieving order`™ he said the `The order was non-speaking; no chance to be heard was given; no notice given; no transfer or posting made.`
He continued `A wrong concept at the Ministry was detected in October 2014. The Ministry had admitted issuing the relieving order with the mistaken concept that he is holding a post of Professor of Urology, and still deny that the order was issued without following rules and regulations governing the service of regular Director.`
He said he had relinquished the post of Prof of Urology at the time of joining as director after being appointed by Direct Recruitment.
He continued, the Supreme Court has ruled and reiterated that the period of any suspension or relieving of duty for the purpose of investigation or departmental enquiry should not exceed the limit of 90 days, whereas the Manipur High Court had ordered on July 31 that there is no provision under which a director (RIMS) could be relieved of duty; the CCS(CCA) Rules 1965 which is applicable to all other RIMS employee shall not apply in case of the Director whose terms of appointment are specified in the appointment order. Hence suspension order cannot be passed on the Director.
He said he had reported for resumption of duty and seeking permission to allow discharge duty of director on August 22 after expiry of three weeks on August 21 before which no order was issued by the Ministry.
However, the Ministry insisted on certified copy which was duly delivered on August 10 and again he reported for the second time on September 1 on expiry of three weeks on August 31 during which no orders have been yet passed by the Ministry, he said.
He said instead of acknowledging and allowing him to discharge duty, the Ministry issued an order dated August 28 which was endorsed by RIMS on September 1 and delivered on September 2 keeping `Dr S Sekharjit Singh, Professor of Urology under suspension.`
`The suspension order is on Professor of Urology and not on the director,` he claimed.
He claimed the Ministry and RIMS has failed to comply with the Court order and `a gang of scrupulous persons with vested interest and personal agenda in a deliberate covert attempt to keep me at bay is using even social organisations and political personnel.`