Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jul 3: Surveillance offier in health department Dr Praveen Kumar, who was suspended from service by the deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district for dereliction of duty for failing to effectively handle suspended dengue cases detected in Gorakshakadandu and Arekerebail near Gujjarakere near here, had approached Karnataka Administrative Tribunal. The tribunal has passed an order, allowing Dr Praveen Kumar to continue to discharge duties in his current post.

The fact that over 50 suspected dengue cases had been reported from the above areas widely, which also got reflected in social websites, state commissioner in health department, Pankaj Kumar Pandey, had instructed the deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada to collect information from the district health centre and take steps. The above places were visited thereafter by a team of health officials, MLAs from the district, people's representatives and also deputy commissioner.

At a meeting held later, it was observed with concern that the number of people suffering from fever within the city limits is increasing. During the visit to the areas where suspected dengue victims reside, many mosquito breeding centres were found and the vigilance department's surveillance was found to be lacking. Deputy commissioner of the district, Sasikanth Senthil, had come to the conclusion that the district surveillance officer was not discharging duties effectively in containing this disease. He had ordered to relieve Dr Praveen Kumar from his post immediately. The charge of this post was given to Mangaluru taluk health officer Dr Naveenchandra Kulal.

Dr Praveen Kumar moved the state administrative tribunal and secured an order from there allowing him to function as the surveillance officer for Dakshina Kannada health department from June 29 onward. It would be interesting to know what steps the district administration will take now to handle the situation arising out of the tribunal order.