DNA EXCLUSIVE | 19 years on, Delhi health department yet to finish purchase scam inquiries
An inquiry ordered 19 years ago into alleged irregular medical equipment purchases at two Delhi government hospitals is still pending with the health department, prompting the vigilance department — under the Lieutenant Governor — to cite repeated red-flags and seek action.
The two hospitals — GB Pant and Guru Nanak Eye Centre (GNEC) — were under scanner for flouting the guidelines for the tendering process of ECG monitors in 1999.
The department of vigilance has now written to the department of health and family welfare, backing recommendations made by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) in its investigation report.
A senior Delhi government official said, “The lax attitude of officers sometimes delays investigations. In many such cases, the attempt is made to shield their own officers who are directly or indirectly involved in corruption. The CVC has been asking the department why there has been no action in the case flagged 19 years ago.”
An investigation report prepared by the commission had highlighted procedural lapses — individual tenders for the same equipment was called within the same time frame separately. The members involved in the alleged corruption included senior IAS officers and principal secretary (Health) in charge of the health department that year.
“Such individual tendering …read more
