Posted at District Hospital Budgam, Doctor Discharged from J&K Health & Family Welfare (Gazetted) Service w.e.f. March 1, 2024
Srinagar, Oct 7: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has terminated the probation of Dr. Saima Nanda, Consultant Surgeon, District Hospital Budgam, and discharged her from the J&K Health & Family Welfare (Gazetted) Service with effect from March 1, 2024, citing prolonged unauthorized absence from duty.
The decision has been issued through Government Order No. 745-JK(HME) of 2026 dated October 6, 2026, by the Health & Medical Education Department.
According to the government order, Dr. Nanda was appointed as a Consultant Surgeon through Government Order No. 303-JK(HME) of 2022 dated May 17, 2022, and was posted at District Hospital Budgam.
The order states that she was sanctioned 30 days’ earned leave with effect from January 30, 2024, and was required to resume her duties on March 1, 2024. However, she allegedly failed to rejoin duty after expiry of the sanctioned leave and remained absent from March 1, 2024.
The Medical Superintendent, District Hospital Budgam, subsequently issued an explanation notice on March 13, 2024, directing her to resume duties within three days and explain her absence. The government order records that she neither resumed duty nor submitted a reply to the notice at that stage.
The Medical Superintendent later reported the continued absence through communications dated March 25 and April 23, 2024, requesting appropriate action under the rules. The prolonged absence was also reported to have adversely affected patient care in the Surgical Department, where only one Consultant Surgeon was available.
Show-Cause Notice Issued
In view of the continued absence, the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir issued a Show Cause Notice on June 6, 2024, directing Dr. Nanda to resume duties within five days. She was also informed that failure to join could be treated as an indication that she was not interested in continuing in government service, with disciplinary proceedings proposed under Article 128 of the J&K Civil Service Regulations, Volume-I.
Dr. Nanda subsequently submitted a reply dated June 25, 2024, explaining that she had been compelled to remain absent due to personal circumstances. She stated that her mother-in-law had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer and had undergone multiple surgeries requiring prolonged treatment outside the Union Territory.
She further stated that she was the only available attendant to accompany her mother-in-law and requested that her absence be considered sympathetically on humanitarian grounds.
Government Says Doctor Did Not Resume Duties
Despite the explanation, the government order states that Dr. Nanda did not resume her duties. According to the latest status communicated by the Medical Superintendent, District Hospital Budgam, and conveyed by the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir, on February 3, 2026, she continued to remain absent and had not furnished further satisfactory justification acceptable under the rules.
The order also notes that although the Show Cause Notice had been issued in June 2024 and the doctor had submitted her reply later that month, the case was forwarded to the Administrative Department only on February 3, 2026, resulting in considerable delay. The Administrative Department subsequently sought details of the officials responsible for the delay in submission of the case.
Second Show-Cause Notice in June 2026
The Administrative Department issued another Show Cause Notice on June 3, 2026, asking Dr. Nanda to submit a written statement within 10 days explaining her continued unauthorized absence and to show cause why action should not be taken against her under Article 128 of the J&K Civil Service Regulations, Volume-I, read with Rule 21(1) of the J&K Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956.
The Director, Health Services, Kashmir, later informed the department that Dr. Nanda had submitted another reply through email in July 2026. The same representation was also received through the Medical Superintendent, District Hospital Budgam.
However, the government order states that in her latest representation, instead of expressing willingness to resume government service, Dr. Nanda requested the competent authority to consider her representation sympathetically and pass appropriate orders accepting her resignation at the earliest.
Probation Terminated Under Service Rules
The government observed that her conduct indicated that she had failed to satisfactorily complete the prescribed probation period. The case was therefore considered under Rule 21(1)(b) of the J&K Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956, read with Article 128 of the J&K Civil Service Regulations, Volume-I. ‘
The order notes that Rule 21(1)(b) empowers the appointing authority, at its discretion, to terminate the probation of a probationer and discharge the person from service.
After examining the service record, period of unauthorized absence, notices issued, explanations submitted and the subsequent request concerning resignation, the Government ordered that the probation of Dr. Saima Nanda, Consultant Surgeon, be terminated.
She has been discharged from the J&K Health & Family Welfare (Gazetted) Service with effect from March 1, 2024, the date from which she reportedly remained unauthorizedly absent.
The order was issued by the Health & Medical Education Department under the authority of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir and bears the signature of M. Raju, IAS, Commissioner/Secretary to the Government.(KNC)
