Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd (KMSCL) has transferred 14 officials, including those who faced allegations of irregularities in appointments and financial transactions, following a detailed review of the corporation’s functioning.The transfers cover officials at the corporation’s headquarters and warehouses. The action comes after allegations of violations of recruitment norms, irregular salary revisions and financial mismanagement.Appointments to KMSCL are made on a contract basis. However, it was found that several appointments allegedly didn’t comply with the prescribed norms. A review reportedly found irregularities in the recruitment of assistant-level employees and the declaration of their probation. Some employees were allegedly granted salary increases in violation of rules, resulting in a financial liability running into crores of rupees to the corporation.Govt initiated the transfers after examining the allegations and related records. Officials facing allegations of financial misconduct are also among those transferred. A separate vigilance investigation is under way into an alleged financial irregularity involving Rs 14 lakh at a warehouse.The latest move is reportedly the first major round of transfers in KMSCL in nearly a decade. The officials transferred were appointed during the first and second LDF govts.The action comes amid concerns over alleged irregularities in medicine procurement and storage. Reports received by govt are said to have pointed to lapses in the procurement process, including alleged instances of officials extending undue concessions to pharmaceutical companies.Further action is expected after additional scrutiny of the corporation’s operations, especially its procurement and medicine-storage systems.
