By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 2 Jun: A request by a doctor seeking transfer from Rudrapur to Haldwani on health grounds has led the Uttarakhand Government to initiate a closer examination of transfer applications based on medical reasons, with Health Minister Subodh Uniyal ordering an inquiry into the case and signalling a tougher approach towards employees and officers who allegedly use illness as a basis for securing preferred postings.
It may be reminded here that the incident has occurred at a time when the annual transfer season is underway across government departments in the state. According to the official sources, the doctor concerned sought a transfer from Rudrapur to Haldwani citing health-related problems. However, the application raised questions within the department, leading the Health Minister to seek a detailed inquiry into the circumstances and medical grounds cited in support of the request. It may also be reminded here that the distance between Rudrapur and Haldwani is 30 kilometres and it hardly takes around 30 to 45 minutes to cover this distance and the journey is considered to be convenient and the urban facilities are similar in both the places including the medical facilities. Following the development, Uniyal made it clear that the government would no longer rely solely on the medical certificates or the claims made in transfer applications. He said every case involving serious illness as the basis for transfer would be subjected to thorough scrutiny to establish the authenticity of the medical condition and determine whether the applicant genuinely requires a change of posting on health grounds.
Speaking to Garhwal Post, Uniyal observed that such cases have increasingly come to the notice of the government, particularly during the transfer season, when employees and officers seek postings at preferred locations. He added that while genuine medical cases deserve sympathy and appropriate relief, there have also been concerns regarding the misuse of health-related claims to avoid postings in difficult areas or to secure transfers to convenient locations.
The officials point out that despite the existence of a transfer policy in Uttarakhand, applications citing serious illnesses continue to be submitted across departments every year. In many cases, employees claim to be suffering from multiple serious ailments. Such applications often leave officials puzzled, as the same employees continue to discharge their duties on a regular basis despite claiming severe health complications.
The Health Department, too, has witnessed a growing number of such requests from doctors and other employees seeking transfers on medical grounds. In view of these developments, the government has decided that applications will no longer be processed merely on the basis of documents submitted by applicants.
Uniyal said the inquiry into the Rudrapur-Haldwani transfer request should be viewed as part of a larger effort to ensure transparency and accountability in the transfer process. He noted that questions are often raised regarding the authenticity of medical documents attached to such applications and emphasised the need for an objective and scientific assessment of each case.
To address the issue, the Health Department is moving towards a system under which employees or doctors seeking transfers on the basis of serious illness will be required to undergo examination by a Medical Board. The Board will assess the nature and severity of the illness and determine whether the employee’s health condition genuinely warrants a transfer.
The Minister said that, if the Medical Board certifies that an employee is indeed suffering from a serious medical condition that affects his or her ability to perform duties at the present place of posting, the department will take an appropriate decision in accordance with the findings. At the same time, he noted that, if a person claims to be suffering from such a serious illness that he or she is unable to discharge official responsibilities effectively, the government may also have to examine the individual’s overall fitness for continuing in service. Uniyal further stated that, in cases where the Medical Board finds that the health condition is so severe that the employee is unable to perform regular duties, the government may even consider compulsory retirement as per applicable rules. He stressed that assessment of work capability is equally important when an employee seeks administrative relief on the basis of illness.
Uniyal has also issued a strong warning against the submission of false medical documents or misleading information. He said that, if an inquiry reveals that a doctor or employee has furnished fabricated certificates or deliberately misrepresented facts to obtain a transfer, legal action will be initiated. Such cases may result in criminal proceedings for furnishing false information and using forged or misleading documents.
Independent experts feel that stricter scrutiny of medical-ground transfer requests is necessary to protect the integrity of the transfer policy and ensure equitable deployment of personnel. In a hill state such as Uttarakhand, the availability of doctors and healthcare workers in remote and difficult regions remains a persistent challenge. They add that when the employees obtain transfers on questionable grounds, it directly affects the delivery of public services in underserved areas.
