Srinagar- Dr. Shabir Ahmad Shah, the Medical Superintendent (Incharge) of Government Dental College Srinagar, has issued a detailed rebuttal to allegations of harassment made by a female junior engineer from the Roads and Buildings department.
The allegations arose after the inauguration of a new flag structure on July 9, during which the engineer claimed Dr. Shah verbally abused her.
In her complaint to Dental College Principal Dr. Ajaz Ahmad, the junior engineer accused Dr. Shah of causing her significant distress by making inappropriate comments in front of faculty members. The Executive Engineer R&B, Karan Nagar Division, supported her claims, urging for Dr. Shah’s removal due to ongoing unprofessional behavior.
However, Dr. Shah denied all claims of verbal abuse and misconduct, describing them as unfounded and orchestrated attempts to malign his reputation due to his strict stance on the quality of civil works at the institution. In a detailed official response, he argued that the allegations were attempts to silence him for highlighting the substandard and negligent work of the engineers and contractors at the institution.
“These claims emerged after I had written a letter to their Chief Engineer on May 3, 2024, detailing the negligence and careless approach of the engineers towards civil works at the institution,” Dr. Shah said
In his letter to the Chief Engineer, Dr. Shah had outlined several issues hampering the institution’s smooth functioning, including delayed repairs, poor drainage systems, recurring leaks and blockages, defaced construction materials, and overall poor quality of work. He also highlighted the frequent non-consultation of his office during civil works, which he argued was essential for monitoring and ensuring quality.
” It is quite strange that despite a lapse of more than three months, the said Executive Engineer didn’t bother to meet me till date and as such, the smooth functioning of this healthcare institution continues to hamper,” Dr Shah said.
Dr Shah accused the engineers of unprofessional behavior, including using derogatory terms against him and ignoring his attempts to address issues.
Notably, the Medical Superintendent (Incharge) of Government Dental College Srinagar was accused of allegedly harassing 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.
“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 had written in her complaint.
Dr. Shah, however, offered a different perspective of the events on July 9. “The Principal/Dean was scheduled to inaugurate the flag structure at 11:00 AM. Despite the assembled faculty and staff waiting under the hot sun, the junior engineer insisted on delaying the ceremony until her Executive Engineer arrived. I requested the Principal/Dean to proceed with the inauguration on time, given the waiting patients and the importance of the national flag,” the MS told Kashmir Observer.
“This I believe hurt the junior engineer’s ego and led to the subsequent allegations,” he added.
Dr. Shah concluded his response by stressing that the accusations were driven by professional jealousy and attempts to undermine his position. He called for an investigation into the matter and urged the authorities to consider the negligent actions of the concerned engineers and contractors that prompted his initial complaints.
Notably, amidst a backdrop of halted construction work by contractors and faculty concerns over Dr. Shah’s fitness for his position, the Secretary of Health and Medical Education, Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed, said that appropriate action would be taken following an investigation into the allegations.
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