‘It is a routine official procedure’: Minister Veena George justifies show-cause notice to Dr Haris Chirackal

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Friday defended the show-cause notice issued to a senior doctor at the Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College Hospital, calling it a “routine official procedure.”

The notice was served to Dr. Haris Chirackal, head of the Urology Department, by the Director of Medical Education (DME), seeking an explanation for allegedly violating the Kerala Government Servants' Conduct Rules, 1960, by publicly criticising the government and bringing disrepute to it.

Dr. Chirackal had earlier voiced frustration over the lack of a critical equipment accessory needed for a surgery in his department. His remarks quickly went viral on social media, and the state government launched a probe to look into the matter.

The minister said a four-member expert panel was constituted to examine the doctor's action, and based on its report, the DME had sought an explanation from the doctor. “It is a routine official procedure,” she said.

She said the expert panel had found that Dr Chirakkal had violated service rules by going public about the issue and not approaching higher-ups in the department.

The panel had also reported that part of the equipment at the Urology department was found missing and recommended a separate enquiry into the matter.

Besides this, the panel also suggested that the purchasing power of superintendents of medical college hospitals, who are also Hospital Development Committee (HDC) secretaries, be increased, George said.

Sharply reacting to the action against the doctor who complained about lack of facilities at the MCH, Leader of the Opposition in Kerala Assembly V D Satheesan said on Friday that the state is being ruled by a few people who will not shy away from doing whatever they want.

“The government is even trying to trap the doctor in a theft case now,” he alleged.

Dr Chirakkal told reporters that he would give a reply to the notice within seven days as directed by the DME. PTI