The state government has extended monetary benefits to Dr S. Mohan Das, a former neurology professor at the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences, in violation of pension rules.
Sources said the government directed Nims to pay Dr Das all monetary benefits given under the Volun-tary Retirement Scheme running into about `30 lakh, besides his pension of about `40,000 every month.
As per pension rules, state government employees are eligible for VRS and the related monetary benefits only after completing 20 years of service. Dr Das fell short of the requirement.
Also, he resigned from Nims in 2004 to take up a job in a corporate hospital after his request for VRS was rejected by Nims’ executive board. After some time, Dr Das moved the Nims board to treat his resignation as voluntary retirement.
When the issue came up before the government, Mr K.R. Ratna Kishore, principal secretary, medical and health department, issued orders favouring Dr Das though the Nims director said extending such benefits is “in violation of Rule 43 of APRPR, 1980.”
Mr Kishore defended his decision by saying it had the concurrence of the finance department.
When it was brought to his notice that in this case the doctor resigned from government service to join the corporate sector, Mr Kishore said he issued the order because the finance department gave its approval and because it was agreed at a Nims board meeting to consider the request.
Inquiries reveal that the Nims board did agree to consider the request in 2010 but with the change of guard at the health ministry, it did not implement the decision and in turn sought the government’s opinion. While seeking the opinion, Nims brought to the government’s notice that Dr Das’s request was illegal.