HC stays order on PGI acting chief
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 30 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today stayed the operation of the Union Government’s order asking Dr N.K. Ganguli, Director-General, Indian Council of Medical Research, to take over as acting Director of the PGI.

Mr Justice Jawahar Lal Gupta and Mr Justice V.M. Jain, who handed down this order, observed that counsel for Prof R.J. Dash, Head of PGI’s Department of Endocrinology, "has produced before us a photo-copy of the gradation seniority list of PGI Professors reflecting the position as on June 30, 1994. This is taken on record. Relying on the provision of rule 7 of the PGI Act, it is contended that the President of the institute could have only appointed the senior-most Professor as Director of the PGI".

The judge further observed that the institute’s Governing Body "having not met, respondent No 1 (Prof Ganguli) does not conform to the provisions of law."

The Bench issued notice to the respondents for December 6. Till then Dr Ganguli "shall not take over as Director of the institute", the Judges ruled. The Bench also directed that a copy of this order certified by the Court Reader be given to counsel for the petitioner.

In his petition Dr Dash stated that the PGI was a corporate body under the Government of India. When the Director retired or went on leave or the position fell vacant, the President may appoint the seniormost Professor as Director for a period of six months.

He stated that Dr Ganguli stood at No 3 in the seniority list of the PGI (now he is on deputation with the Indian Council of Medical Research).

Many jail inmates drug addicts
From Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Nov 30 — A large number of inmates of the high-security Central Jail here have been found to be drug addicts by a medical board constituted at the behest of the Punjab Human Rights Commission (PHRC). The board, which conducted an on-the-spot inquiry, has recommended immediate de-addiction of as many as 53 prisoners.

The inquiry was conducted following a complaint (number 475) lodged with the PHRC this year by somebody who preferred anonymity. The board, headed by Dr Rajiv Arora, visited the jail and examined the inmates there. Dr H.S. Gill, Medical Superintendent, Government Medical College and Mr Chetan Parkash, District Probation Officer, were also present.

The complaint, on which the inquiry was initiated, had alleged that drugs were being made available to prisoners in connivance with the authorities concerned. However, this was vehemently denied by Mr Jagjit Singh, Jail Superintendent, while talking to TNS today. He claimed that a Deputy Superintendent (Jail) who had been transferred on "administrative grounds" was behind the complaint.

The report of the medical board reads: "As many as 1617 inmates in the Central Jail are unwilling to divulge information about the drugs they take. Thus, the only alternative for the board was to keep the patients (prisoners) under observation for at least four days in order to assess drug withdrawal symptoms, but there being only 10 beds at the de-addiction clinic of the hospital, it was not feasible to do so."

Interestingly, the members of the board pointed at the inadequacies of the present staff in looking after such a large number of patients.

The board recommended that special equipment was required for the purpose which was not available at the de-addiction centre of the Government Medical College.

The 53 drug addicts in the jail were identified on the basis of tranquillisers they consumed on the prescription of jail doctors.

"We cannot de-addict the chronic patients overnight. If a doctor does not prescribe tranquillisers, these patients can even commit suicide", said Mr Jagjit Singh, Jail Superintendent.

On the availability of drugs to the prisoners, the Jail Superintendent said addicts, in all livelihood, consumed drugs while on their way to courts.

He underlined the need for arranging visits of members of non-government organisations who could explain to the addicts the ill-effects of addiction.