Srinagar, June 19: Jammu and Kashmir health minister Choudhry Lal Singh today said that he made a surprise visit to a dispensary at the civil secretariat and transferred excess staff being posted there. "I found that it had an excess staff of more than 10 persons, who were transferred to their original locations," Singh said in the legislative assembly after Question Hour.

Singh, referring to reports in the local media about his alleged misbehaviour with a dispensary staffer, said it was only to divert the attention from the real issue of misconduct and embezzlement committed by the staffers.

"The staff does not wear the uniform nor the identity cards. There is no cleanliness. The refrigerator, mattresses and several other items in the dispensary inventory are missing. I told the staff either to replace the items or face a cut from their salaries," he added.

He said faced with disciplinary action, the unions in the secretariat have levelled baseless charge against him.

"When I took the oath as a minister, I said then and I repeat now that all female staff in the department are like my sisters and I know how to respect them. But I will not tolerate indiscipline at any cost," he said.

Bureau Report