Registrar sacked; move likely to cause further unrest

Bengaluru,Jul 29 (DHNS): The director in-charge of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Nimhans) has sacked the registrar, Dr V Ravi, stating that his term had come to an end and he has been relieved of his duties.

Dr Nityananda Pradhan, whose tenure as director in-charge ends on Friday, issued a letter on Tuesday, stating that Dr Ravi had completed his term on May 18. The letter also stated that Prof K Sekar, Head, Department of Psychiatric Social Work, has been appointed ‘deputy director (administration)’ with immediate effect. Deccan Herald has a copy of the letter.

The sacking of Dr Ravi is one of the many controversial decisions Dr Pradhan has taken after assuming charge last month. Last week, he sacked his immediate predecessor, Dr P Satish Chandra, stating that he cannot continue as a faculty member.

He also relieved many other faculty members of their duties. The move caused unrest among students and faculty members who came out in support of Dr Chandra, forcing Dr Pradhan to revoke the termination.

The termination of Dr Ravi has also stoked controversy. Some faculty members argued that the post of ‘deputy director (administration)’ does not exist in the Nimhans Act, 2012, and since the registrar was appointed before Nimhans became an institute of national repute, his term is not specified.

Decisions beyond permit
“The in-charge director has been taking decisions which his post does not permit him to. Ideally, it is only the Union government which has the powers to remove the registrar,” a senior administrative member of the institute said.

Meanwhile, the registrar has written to the Union government and the State Health Department, seeking their intervention in the matter. “We are awaiting Dr Pradhan’s term to come to an end by July 31. Based on the decisions the new director-in-charge would take, we will decide on going to court,” said a senior doctor.

When contacted, Dr Pradhan said that though doctors and staff members were pointing fingers at him, these were “nothing but baseless allegations”.

He demanded that those making claims of being removed from their posts produce necessary proof to validate their claims.

Former director dismayed

Dr G N Narayana Reddy, a former director of Nimhans, expressed dismay at the developments. “It is very unfortunate that such ripples of disturbance are arising in an institute of national importance. It has been just 28 days since he (Dr Pradhan) took charge and there is so much ruckus at the institute.”

Dr Reddy suggested that some decisions taken by Dr Pradhan were against the Medical Council of India (MCI) regulations. For example, the head of the Department of Microbiology ought to be from the medical background. But Dr Pradhan has appointed a person from non-medical background to the post. Then, the head of Surgical Department was removed without a valid reason, he added.

Minister of Health and Family Welfare U T Khader has promised to intervene in the matter, if need be, to ensure that the reputation of Nimhans is not lost.