Court quashes order on RIMS interim director in-charge
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 19 2022: IMPHAL: The interim order issued by the Ministry of health and family welfare, on October 12, 2022 entrusting additional charge for the post of director of Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) to Dr L Ranjit Singh has been quashed by the High Court of Manipur on Monday.

The order of the High Court was issued following a writ petition filed by Dr Hemam Priyoshakhi Devi against the secretary and under secretary of the Ministry of health and family welfare and Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Manipur deputy director, who are the official respondents, and private respondent Dr L Ranjit Singh.

The order stated that the impugned interim order has been quashed and set aside, however, the official respondents will not be precluded from making fresh interim in-charge arrangement in respect of the vacant post of RIMS director strictly in terms of the provisions of Rule 12 (1) (iii) of the Rules and Regulations of RIMS.

According to the counsel of the petitioner, as per the Rule 12 (1) (iii) of the Rules and Regulations of RIMS, in the absence of a regular RIMS director, the senior most officer in the seniority list should be handed the post of director in-charge.

Dr Hemam Priyoshakhi Devi, who is the 3rd senior most in the list, has to be adjudged to the post as the 1st and 2nd senior most officials had already retired.

However, the counsel of the respondents argued that the present seniority list of RIMS has not been approved by the RIMS executive council.

Moreover, Dr Priyoshakhi and Dr L Ranjit Singh were appointed on the same day (February 2, 2009) through different appointment letters.

Since Dr Ranjit is senior to Dr Priyoshakhi in age, the interim order for his post as director in-charge does not violate any rules and regulations of RIMS.

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