Honest mistake: Store manager loses job for pointing out vaccine theft
PPHI agrees to pay his dues but won’t rehire him.
KARACHI:
When store manager Dr Meghraj Kumar pointed out the theft of 160 vials of the Hepatitis B vaccine, instead of being rewarded for his honesty, he was sacked by the Peoples Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI).
On Wednesday, the doctor irked the Sindh High Court judges hearing his case, by repeatedly stating that he was being punished for pointing out the theft by PPHI district officer Dr Naseemuddin Mirani. “I asked Dr Mirani to acknowledge that he has taken away the vaccine for keeping at another facility but despite reminders, he failed to do so and when I brought this to light I was sacked,” said Dr Kumar. He pleaded that when 23 other contract employees like him were allowed to continue working, why he was being punished.
The drugs were later found from a laboratory in Sukkur, according to reports that appeared in Sindhi newspapers.
In response, the PPHI seems to want to wash its hands of Dr Kumar. “He is a headache for us; he is encouraging others to go to the court,” PPHI’s provincial project manager told the court. “If he is allowed to continue further there will be no discipline in our department.”
The division bench comprising Justice Maqbool Baqar and Justice Nisar M Shaikh ordered the PPHI to pay everything they owed Dr Kumar within a week’s time. However, the doctor’s request to get his job back as earlier ordered by an SHC bench went in vain. The PPHI has said, however, that it was willing to pay his dues.
Deputy Attorney General Ashique Raza represented the federal government while the respondents were represented by a former judge and senior lawyer Shafqat Shah Masoomi. Dr Kumar appeared in person.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2012.
When store manager Dr Meghraj Kumar pointed out the theft of 160 vials of the Hepatitis B vaccine, instead of being rewarded for his honesty, he was sacked by the Peoples Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI).
On Wednesday, the doctor irked the Sindh High Court judges hearing his case, by repeatedly stating that he was being punished for pointing out the theft by PPHI district officer Dr Naseemuddin Mirani. “I asked Dr Mirani to acknowledge that he has taken away the vaccine for keeping at another facility but despite reminders, he failed to do so and when I brought this to light I was sacked,” said Dr Kumar. He pleaded that when 23 other contract employees like him were allowed to continue working, why he was being punished.
The drugs were later found from a laboratory in Sukkur, according to reports that appeared in Sindhi newspapers.
In response, the PPHI seems to want to wash its hands of Dr Kumar. “He is a headache for us; he is encouraging others to go to the court,” PPHI’s provincial project manager told the court. “If he is allowed to continue further there will be no discipline in our department.”
The division bench comprising Justice Maqbool Baqar and Justice Nisar M Shaikh ordered the PPHI to pay everything they owed Dr Kumar within a week’s time. However, the doctor’s request to get his job back as earlier ordered by an SHC bench went in vain. The PPHI has said, however, that it was willing to pay his dues.
Deputy Attorney General Ashique Raza represented the federal government while the respondents were represented by a former judge and senior lawyer Shafqat Shah Masoomi. Dr Kumar appeared in person.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2012.