Sambalpur/Bhubaneswar: Two months after being served a show-cause notice by the State Government and also sent on leave, VSS Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), Sambalpur Director Ashwini Pujahari has resigned from the post protesting the inordinate delay on the part of the Government in disposing of the notice.
On December 8, the State Government issued him a show-cause notice after a video showing Pujahari’s team pouring table salt on a man’s body after surgical incision (dubbed salt therapy by many), had gone viral. He was also sent on leave till the notice is disposed.
Pujhahari has sent the resignation to Governor Ganeshi Lal on Friday.
“I am a workaholic person. I can’t waste time. Despite complying with the show cause notice, I have not received even an acknowledgement from the State government. The Government should intimate me about its decision,” said Pujharai in a press conference here.
Maintaining that he can’t waste time only waiting for a Government response, Pujhari said, “I had requested Odisha Government to either restore my position or dispose of the matter at the earliest.”
A master of Surgery degree holder, he had joined the institute, a unitary university, as Director in June 2017. Days after joining, he had cracked down on private practice of the doctors during duty hours and students bunking classes by frequent surprise visits thereby earning the wrath of a sector of doctors and students.
At the same time he had earned good name from the civil society and also from political parties cutting across party lines for streamlining the healthcare service at the premier medical institute.
Notably, the Junior Doctors’ Association (JDA) had launched a cease-work protest in November 2018 demanding ouster of Pujahari for his alleged autocratic style of functioning and giving unproven therapies to patients. They withdrew their strike Pujahari was sent on leave on December 8 last year.
I had always worked for the development of the hospital. I tried to enforce discipline by ensuring that UG classes were held on time besides putting a check on irregularities and corrupt practices on campus,” Pujahari added.
