Nagpur: Maharashtra govt has suspended Gadchiroli district surgeon Dr Varsha Shivaji Lahade over alleged inexcusable negligence and dereliction of duty, ordering a departmental inquiry against her, according to an official order issued on Wednesday.Lahade has now been transfered to Gondia district hospital, but has not been handed any charge. She shall remain placed under suspension with immediate effect till further orders.She has not be permitted to leave Gondia without prior approval from the competent authority. The order also prohibits her from taking up private employment, business or other commercial activities without permission.The govt has directed that she be paid subsistence allowance and other admissible benefits as per rules.The order states that Lahade allegedly committed negligence and failed to discharge her supervisory responsibilities, prompting the decision to initiate a departmental inquiry. However, it does not specify the incidents or allegations forming the basis of the inquiry.The suspension comes amid growing concern over a recent spate of maternal and infant deaths in Gadchiroli. A mother and her newborn died during delivery earlier this month, taking the number of maternal-infant deaths reported in the district to three in 15 days.While the govt order does not explicitly link Lahade’s suspension to these recent deaths, its timing is likely to be viewed as an indication that the state authorities have taken serious cognisance of the concerns surrounding maternal and child healthcare in the district. The precise grounds of the departmental inquiry, however, will need to be established through the proceedings.
