NASHIK, Nov 5: State Health Minister Dr Daulatrao Aher's move to install one of his trusted lieutenants, Dr Sharad Pagare (brother of Dr B P Pagare, who manages the Minister's clinic in Nashik) as the medical superintendent of Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC)-run Bytco hospital, has rendered the latter, jobless.

Pagare, who was working as a surgeon in the Nashik Civil Hospital, was relieved, following an order of his appointment as medical superintendent for NMC. However, the NMC refused to allow him to join duty, as the fate of the existing superintendent Dr K S Bhosale was not specified in the government order.

Aher's move was to appoint Pagare as the medical superintendent and shift Bhosale to the NMC headquarters as medical officer (Admn). Orders were then issued to shift the medical officer (Admn) Dr Chandrakant Palod to Old Nashik municipal clinic. Palod moved the court and obtained a stay.

On the other hand, doctors at the Bytco municipal hospital moved the court and obtained a stay on the appointment of the Minster's chum, Pagare, as the medical superintendent. The musical chairs have been on for the past two months and Pagare has been rendered jobless notwithstanding his connections with the Minister.

When Pagare approached his old department (Nashik Civil Hospital) he was turned back on grounds that he had already been relieved following State Government orders. On the other hand, litigations have stalled his entry into the NMC, making him a well-connected jobless person. He has been living without salary for the last two months. Pagare, who has been fed up with the injustice meted out to him, decided to sue Municipal Commissioner Baldev Chand for note effecting the State Government orders promptly.

He pointed out that he could have joined his duties at the Bytco Hospital as Bhosale's tenure had ended. Bhosale, who was the additional district health officer of Nashik Zilla Parishad, is on deputation to the NMC.However, the State Government also committed a faux pas, extending Bhosale's term for another year, pushing Pagare into troubled waters.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.