The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Friday organized a rally in Angul, demanding a judicial inquiry into the alleged fake certificate racket and corruption at Pabitra Mohan Pradhan Medical College and Hospital (PMP MCH) in Talcher. The party submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, alleging that several nurses were recruited using forged certificates.
Background of the Controversy
On June 6, the Angul district collector ordered an inquiry into the matter. Subsequently, authorities began document verification of nurses recruited from 2023 onwards at PMP Government Hospital. During the verification process, around 105 out of 285 nurses did not appear. Their absence raised serious questions about the recruitment process.
Action Taken by Authorities
The controversy prompted medical college authorities to suspend the clinical duties of the suspected staff. Their deputation to PMP MCH has been cancelled, and they have been reverted to their parent facility pending verification. Officials stated that a detailed check of educational qualifications and registration credentials is underway.
Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling said that directions have been issued to the Angul district collector to take action in the matter. “The district collector has issued a show-cause notice to the concerned authorities of the medical college and hospital. An inquiry is underway. Those involved will be taken to task. The agency involved in the recruitment will be blacklisted. This incident occurred in 2022-23. The moment we came to know about it, we took necessary steps,” Mahaling stated.
Political Reactions
The BJD has been vocal about the issue, demanding a thorough judicial inquiry to ensure accountability. The party alleges that the recruitment process was compromised, leading to the appointment of unqualified personnel. The state government has assured strict action against those found guilty.
The development has sparked widespread debate on the integrity of recruitment processes in government medical institutions. The verification drive is expected to continue until all recruited nurses are cleared of any discrepancies.
