Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Oct 06: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has revoked the suspension of Dr Syed Maqbool Ahmad Shah, Associate Professor of Cardiology, Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu, nearly four months after he was suspended in connection with allegations related to cardiac procedures and claims under the PMJAY-SEHAT health insurance scheme.
According to an order, a copy of which was accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the suspension has been revoked under Rule 31(3) of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956, following the recommendations of the Suspension Review Committee.
The order states that Dr Shah has been reinstated in service with immediate effect and directed to report forthwith at his original place of posting, Government Medical College, Jammu.
It also states that the government has clarified that the revocation of suspension does not bring the departmental proceedings to an end. “The period of suspension shall be decided separately, upon conclusion of the departmental proceedings, in accordance with the provisions of the applicable service rules,” the order states.
The order further states that Dr Shah was placed under suspension through Government Order No. 504-JK(HME) of 2026, dated June 20, following allegations that surfaced during scrutiny of cardiac procedures and reimbursement claims submitted under the PMJAY-SEHAT scheme at GMC Anantnag.
According to the allegations contained in the departmental proceedings, scrutiny by the State Anti-Fraud Unit (SAFU) had pointed to discrepancies between entries uploaded on the Transaction Management System and records maintained in the Cath Lab Procedure Register at GMC Anantnag.
“The inquiry had also raised questions over claims involving 103 cases categorised under the package of Dual Chamber Pacemaker Implantation, while investigators alleged that the procedures performed in those cases were Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing (LBBAP),” the order reads.
The order further states that the matter subsequently came under expert scrutiny, with specialists from the Department of Cardiology at SKIMS Soura reviewing 55 selected cases. The expert assessment, as cited in the inquiry, reportedly raised questions regarding the medical indication for the procedure in 27 cases, with nearly half of the reviewed patients allegedly having normal left ventricular function.
At the time of the controversy, Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo had said that the government had initiated an inquiry and that action would be taken against anyone found responsible after the process was completed.
Dr Shah, meanwhile, had strongly denied the allegations, describing them as fabricated and arguing that the allegations contained in the departmental memorandum were being treated in public discourse as a final verdict despite the inquiry being incomplete.—(KNO)
