DK Shukla

Patna, Oct. 12: The health department has appointed Indian Forest Service officer D.K. Shukla as the managing director of Bihar Medical Services and Infrastructure Corporation Limited, bending the post’s appointment norms for the second consecutive time.

According to the bylaws of Bihar Medical Services and Infrastructure Corporation Limited (BMSICL), only an IAS officer can be its managing director (MD). But the health department appointed Shukla yesterday as the new MD of BMSICL.

Shukla’s predecessor Pravin Kishore, who has been put under suspension for his alleged role in the drug purchase scam, was also not an IAS officer. He was an Indian Revenue Service officer.

A day after Shukla’s appointment, principal health secretary Deepak Kumar said: “We have given additional charge to Shukla and he won’t be working on a permanent basis. He would continue in the post till a new person is appointed permanently.”

Kumar said he was aware of the bylaws of BMSICL, which says that only an IAS officer can be the MD of BMSICL.

According to sources, the health department zeroed in Shukla for his clean image. “The state government wants to monitor the affairs of the corporation closely. The focus was on appointing a trusted official and not following the basic norms like choosing an IAS official for the post. The government wants to take tough action against the culprits. It has proved it by suspending and initiating department action against the officials on whom allegations of involvement in the drug scam has been levelled,” said a source.

An official of the health department said the job of the BMSICL MD includes works related to finance and accountancy. “As an IFS officer is not supposed to have command over these,” he added.

A senior official of the health department, who did not wish to be named, said: “Shukla is the right person for this post because he is already looking after finance, accounts and other similar works as the managing director of Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited.”

A section of the health department officials said Shukla was already overburdened. Besides being the managing director of Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited, he is the managing director of the state housing board. He is also the additional principal chief conservator of forest (administration) in the environment and forests department and the chief wildlife warden.