BENGALURU: National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) director in-charge Dr N Pradhan has sent a letter to Registrar Dr V Ravi stating that he has completed his tenure and has been discharged from his duties.
The letter, a copy of which is available with Express, also states that Prof K Shekar, Head of Department, Psychiatric Social Work, has been appointed deputy director (administration) with immediate effect, and that Dr Ravi had completed his term on May 18.
Speaking to Express, Dr Pradhan said, “The letter was given to Dr Ravi as his term had ended and as per the rules, another person has been give charge.”
The deputy director (administration) post was suposed to be created three years back. Since this didn’t happen, he added this post in his capacity as director in-charge, he said.
Meanwhile, a doctor, who was part of the group that met Dr Pradhan last week over his actions, said the deputy director (administration) term does not exist in the NIMHANS Act, 2012.
“The director in-charge has been taking decisions that his post does not permit him to. Ideally, it is only the Union government which has the power to remove the Registrar,” a senior administrative member said.
NIMHANS sources said the Registrar has written to the health department and Union government seeking their intervention.
“We are awaiting Dr Pradhan’s term to come to an end on Friday. Depending on the decisions of the new director in-charge, we will decide whether or not to go to the court,” a source said.
Last week, senior doctors staged a protest in front of Dr Pradhan’s office protesting his move to end the services of former director Dr P Satish Chandra.
NIMHANS faculty association member Dr Mathew said, “The allegations made by Dr Pradhan are baseless and no one was instigated either by Dr Ravi or someone. There was no protest, the faculty members only met the director in-charge.”
Earlier, Dr Ravi had termed all the allegations and reports as baseless.
Dr Narayana Reddy, former director of NIMHANS, said the ongoing situation has affected the reputation of NIMHANS. He advised that no one should get
carried away by Dr Pradhan’s allegations of negligence against doctors and against Dr Ravi. These are baseless and Dr Ravi was appointed based on the advice of the Union Health Ministry, he said.
Dr Reddy said a few decisions that Dr Pradhan has taken are against the Medical Council of India regulations. The HoD of Microbiology should be from a medical background. However, Dr Pradhan has appointed one from a non-medical background.