Dr Arjun Singh. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) superintendent Dr Arjun Singh has decided to resign from the post after the health department asked him to continue in only one position. He also heads the orthopaedics department.

However, Singh’s decision is bound to open up a can of worms, as his predecessors Dr O.P. Choudhary and Dr A.K. Pandey were the heads of the ophthalmology and medicine departments, respectively, while being the superintendents of the health hub.

Singh forwarded his resignation letter to the health department on April 4 after serving only a month as the superintendent. Sources said Singh’s resignation has not been accepted as yet.

Sources said after taking over as superintendent, Singh had taken up a number of initiatives, including levelling uneven roads in front of the hospital, covering drains and improving sanitation work.

According to sources, Singh was asked to continue either as superintendent or as the head of orthopaedics. Singh said: “I was not doing a full-time job. The notification letter of my joining stated that I was being given the additional charge of superintendent. I don’t know why I am being told now that it is a full-time job.”

However, Patna Medical College principal Dr N.P. Yadav said it was mentioned in the notification letter that he was being given a full-time job as superintendent.