Staff protest as Accounts Manager reinstated amid ongoing corruption probe in Kulgam hospital

July 26, 2025 by News Desk

Danishwar Hameed

Doctors and paramedical staff at District Hospital Kulgam are up in arms after the National Health Mission (NHM) issued an order reinstating Ms. Umaira Jan, the hospital’s former Accounts Manager, to her previous post, despite serious allegations of embezzlement, financial fraud, and ongoing investigations by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).

A formal protest letter, signed by a group of staffers and addressed to the Health and Medical Education Department, accuses Umaira Jan of misappropriating Ayushman Bharat funds and creating a fake bank account under a misleading name to siphon off public money.

The complaint, backed by audit findings and transaction records, claims that between April and September 2022, lakhs of rupees were fraudulently transferred to an account resembling that of an official vendor. These transactions, amounting to over ₹6 lakh, allegedly occurred without oversight or proper documentation.

The letter also cites multiple audit reports that flagged serious procedural violations, including poor record maintenance, purchases without tendering, misappropriation of incentives, and deviation from financial guidelines issued by the Ayushman Bharat authorities.

It further notes that despite repeated government directives for correction, no meaningful action was taken during her tenure.

“She not only misused funds but also damaged the credibility of the hospital and the trust of the general public in the healthcare system,” the staff wrote, calling for her termination and criminal proceedings under the Prevention of Corruption Act and related laws.

In a surprising development, however, the NHM on February 28, 2025, issued Order No. 316, revoking her 2022 transfer to Anantnag and reinstating her at District Hospital Kulgam.

The order relieved the current acting Accounts Manager of his additional charge and stated that Umaira Jan’s salary would now be drawn from her original place of posting.

This decision has sparked outrage among hospital staff, who see it as a blow to accountability. “Despite a pending inquiry and well-documented fraud, she has been brought back to the very institution she is accused of defrauding,” a senior paramedic told The Kashmiriyat on condition of anonymity.

Documents accessed by The Kashmiriyat reveal that the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Jammu is currently investigating these irregularities.

A letter dated 12 July 2025 from the ACB to the Medical Superintendent of District Hospital Kulgam confirms an ongoing probe into possible corruption in the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat (AB-PMJAY) scheme during the 2022–23 financial year.

The ACB has sought full records of bank accounts, vendor lists, memorandums of understanding (MOUs), and procurement procedures from the hospital.

Staff have warned that the failure to act could result in further protests and legal escalation. “If immediate corrective action is not taken, we will be forced to approach the Lieutenant Governor’s office, the PMO, and agencies like the CBI,” the letter warns.

As of now, the Health Department has not responded publicly to the protests or the status of the investigation.