Patna: A day after being relieved of the additional charge of principal of Patna Medical College Hospital (PMCH), Dr Narendra Pratap Singh on Friday accused the state health department of “administrative highhandedness” and “dictatorship”, while the department maintained the action was taken on administrative grounds after he remained absent during health minister Nishant Kumar’s visit to the hospital.The controversy arose from the minister’s visit to PMCH on June 23 for an inauguration programme. The health department relieved Dr Singh of the additional charge on June 25 and transferred him as professor in the department of psychiatry at Government Medical College, Bettiah, citing his absence.Defending himself, Dr Singh said he was not given an opportunity to explain his position before the action was taken. “This is highly insulting and has deeply hurt my professional dignity. I want to live with my pride. Whatever has been done is planned to tarnish my image. Is this the reward for a spotless life I have lived?” he said, adding he would prefer taking voluntary retirement rather than compromise with his self-respect.Explaining his absence, Dr Singh said hot water had accidentally fallen on his abdomen a day before the minister’s visit, causing burns to his stomach and thigh. “Hot water had fallen on my body a day before the minister’s programme. I was in immense pain and was resting after taking medicines. I was not in a condition to check who was calling me,” he said. He also claimed he had not received formal information about the minister’s visit and denied allegations that his official vehicle was parked outside his private clinic, saying it was his ancestral home.Health department secretary Kumar Ravi, however, said Dr Singh remained absent without informing the authorities. “Even if he was not well, he should have informed someone. How can he be absent from such an important place without informing anyone and without handing over charge? Even his office was not aware of his absence,” Ravi said.Ravi said the PMCH superintendent had personally informed Dr Singh about the minister’s visit and assigned him the responsibility of delivering the vote of thanks. Citing a district administration report, he said Dr Singh was attending patients at his private clinic during the programme.The health department also announced a high-level inquiry into the matter. It said further action would be taken after obtaining Dr Singh’s response and following the prescribed procedure.
