Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)
Kundapur, Dec 17: It may be recalled that after a woman, Sujatha, whose bleeding after delivery on Saturday at the government hospital here could not be stopped and who died on Sunday, at Manipal Hospital, family members of the lady supported by members of the public had mobbed the government hospital here by way of protest. As a repercussion, chief medical officer (CMO) of the government taluk hospital here, Dr Robert Rebello, has been transferred as per the orders of the deputy secretary of the government, citing dereliction of duty and misconduct.
With this, Dr Rebello is facing the threat of transfer for the second time in the recent past. A few days back, he had been suspended from service and his transfer had been ordered but he had approached Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT) and succeeded in getting a stay order against the transfer. He had thereafter reported for duty again at the taluk government hospital here.
It is said that the government had received complaint that the CMO was guilty of dereliction of duty and misconduct in the case pertaining to the death of Sujatha. Deputy secretary in the department of health and family welfare N Laxman, issued this order as per which Dr Rebello has been transferred to the primary health centre at Cherambane, Kodagu district near Madikeri. Dr Udayashankar, who had earlier functioned as medical officer of the hospital and has currently been discharging duty as general surgeon, has been appointed as acting CMO in Dr Rebello's place.
Political conspiracy alleged
There are allegations that political conspiracy and interference have worked behind this transfer. It is being alleged that Dr Robert Rebello is facing political vendetta as he happens to be the son-in-law of former Congress MLA Winnifred Fernandes. The people here have been wondering about the need of transfer of Dr Robert Rebello, even though he did not have any role in the case pertaining to the demise of woman post her delivery. A number of people are of the opinion that the stay order issued by KAT earlier will hold good for this transfer too.