Lt Governor Suspends Delhi Health Minister’s Aide Amid Hospital Fire Controversy
29.05.2024: In a significant development, Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena has suspended Dr. RN Das, a senior aide to Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj, amid ongoing tensions between the LG’s office and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). This action follows a tragic fire at a private children’s hospital that resulted in the deaths of seven infants.
Suspension of Dr. RN Das
Dr. RN Das, who served as an Officer on Special Duty, has been accused of misconduct related to an unauthorized nursing home. The Lt Governor claims that Dr. Das, during his tenure as Medical Superintendent of the Delhi government’s Nursing Home Cell, delayed the renewal of Jyoti Clinic and Nursing Home’s license since 2014. This alleged delay allowed the facility to operate without proper authorization.
Allegations and Inquiry
Mr. Saxena has pointed to a civil complaint from 2018, which highlighted that the nursing home continued to operate despite its license expiring. The management of the nursing home had applied for a new license, but Dr. Das reportedly kept this pending. The LG’s statement suggests that Dr. Das colluded with the management, allowing the unauthorized operation of the facility.
An inquiry concluded that Dr. Das was responsible for the delay in renewing the nursing home’s registration. An initial anti-corruption investigation found sufficient evidence to warrant a full inquiry into his actions. Dr. Das held his position at the Nursing Home Cell from 2011 to 2015 and again from 2018 to 2022, during which the alleged misconduct occurred.
Connection to Hospital Fire
The suspension comes amid heated exchanges between the Lt Governor and the AAP following a deadly fire at a private children’s hospital. The tragedy has sparked political tensions, with the BJP leveraging the incident to criticize the ruling party ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Mr. Saxena linked the fire incident to the alleged licensing failures, suggesting that Dr. Das had allowed the hospital to register without ensuring compliance with fire safety regulations. The LG criticized Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj for their perceived inaction and called for a thorough anti-corruption probe into the regulatory management of private nursing homes in Delhi.
AAP’s Response and Measures
While the AAP has yet to issue a formal response, Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj has ordered a mandatory audit of safety equipment in city hospitals. The Delhi government has also initiated a magistrate-level investigation into the fire incident.
Recent Interventions by the Lt Governor
In addition to this incident, Lt Governor Saxena has been involved in other controversies, including the Swati Maliwal row, where he supported Maliwal’s allegations of assault against an aide of Mr. Kejriwal.