In his place Dr Chongtham Arun Singh former Medical Superintendent of the RIMS Hospital and currently Head, Department of Orthopaedics, has asked to take charge as Director.
A communique to this effect was received from the Deputy Secretary Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Mr Ishwar Singh vide Order No.U.12025/12/2014-NE dated 25-8-2014.
However, Dr Sekharjit refused to hand over charge to Dr Arun stating that he needs to examine the veracity of the order stressing to need to examine it and questioned as to how the Government of India can remove a Director just like that. Upon his refusal to relinquish charge Dr Arun, having no option left, took self charge of the Institute.
The Regional Institute of Medical Sciences is almost on par with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences,New Delhi in terms of infrastructure and specialisation.
It used to earlier operate under the North Eastern Council but the Government of India took over the administration a few years back. It draws students from almost all the northeastern states excepting Assam for its MBBS and Post-Graduate Courses. It has 700 beds in its hospital and also has a Dental College and a Nursing College attached to it.
Dr Sekharjit’s tenure has been marked with a series of controversy over recruitment of staff nurses to awarding of contract works. The reported rate for recruitment as a staff nurse in the grey market hovers between Rs 10-15 lakhs.The appointment of his wife as the Principal of the Dental College is also shrouded in controversy.
In the meantime in an IED blast suspected to have been triggered by members of the proscribed People’s Liberation Army(PLA) a Non-Commissioned Officer belonging to the 3rd Assam Rifles sustained injuries.The incident occured at the Old Somtal village area in Chandel district.
The troops belonging to the Selon post were on a routine patrol march when the IED was triggered injuring Havildar Jagdish Das Chander who was later air-lifted to the Military Hospital in Leimakhong where he is under treatment for splinter injuries sustained on his neck, head and left leg, according to official