Srinagar- The Medical Superintendent (Incharge) of Government Dental College Srinagar allegedly harassed a woman engineer from the Roads and Buildings department after discovering his name was missing from a marble plaque on a new flag structure inaugurated on July 9.
Witnesses reported that MS Dr. Shabir Ahmad Shah became verbally abusive towards the engineer, causing her distress to the point of tears and near fainting.
In her complaint to Dental College Principal Dr. Ajaz Ahmad, the Junior Engineer (JE) described the incident, citing CCTV footage and demanding action against Shah and another individual.
“I experienced verbal harassment, humiliation and inappropriate comments in front of the entire faculty, at least 40 men and 10 women, of the college by the MS, which has been recorded in CCTV footage of the College. This behavior is totally unacceptable and being a lady does not give any one right to make me compromise by dignity and honour. I am of the opinion the said person is having some psychological issue. Suhail Majid and Medical Superintendent both sabotaged the official inauguration of the Flag Hoisting that cannot be neglected at any cost (sic),” the JE wrote in her complaint.
“I want this matter to be investigated and seen whether the said person is fit for the job and should be taken back from his position of being a Medical Superintendent, otherwise we won’t be able to continue work in such abusive environment and strict disciplinary action under rules to be initiated against professor Shabir Ahmad Shah and Suhail Majid (sic),” she added.
The Executive Engineer R&B, Karan Nagar Division, also lodged a complaint citing ongoing misconduct and urging Shah’s removal due to his unprofessional behavior and derogatory remarks towards female officials.
“The unprofessional, indecent, insensitive and humiliating behavior of the said official with our engineer as well as contractors has already been bought to your notice on several occasions in the past as well, with the hope that some concrete action shall be made against the said official,” the EXEN wrote to the Dental College Principal.
“The continued misconduct and misbehavior as reported by lady engineers on 09/07/2024 during the inauguration of Permanent Flag Structure, which was facilitated by this department as a good will gesture, wherein the said in charge Medical Superintendent has not only harassed and humiliated our lady engineer without any reason in front of dozens of senior officials of your department, but also used derogatory comments against her us well as to the department and which cannot be acceptable by means,” the complaint reads.
“The insensitivity of such officer who sans basic ethics of decency about how to deal with fellow officials particularly female officials raises serious concerns about his mental health, which inturn raises serious question of him holding such a sensitive post of medical superintendent.”
Notably, according to reports, Dr. Shabir Shah, a senior professor and HOD Dental Material at the Govt. Dental College & Hospital was appointed as Medical Superintendent despite guidelines barring professors from such administrative roles.
This has invited further backlash from contractors and faculty. Contractors have halted work in protest, citing ongoing harassment, while faculty members and officials express concern over Shah’s fitness for the position.
The contractors’ letter to the GDC Principal alleges ongoing harassment by the Medical Superintendent, which has disrupted project completion and created an untenable work environment. They claim to have verbally reported the harassment to the appropriate authorities, but to no avail. Consequently, they have resolved to halt further work and refuse participation in future development projects until the Medical Superintendent is reassigned and held accountable.
However, the Medical Superintendent, Dr Shabir Ahmad Shah denied any of these allegations and said, “These allegations are a result of jealousy by few of my professional colleagues who instigated the complainants, and also purely because I highlighted the substandard works in my hospital by the concerned engineers in my communication to their Chief Engineer in May this year.”
“I will look into the matter and see what wrong has happened. The concerned have been directed to initiate action in this regard,” Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed, told Kashmir Observer.
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