Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences director Arun Kumar could face departmental proceedings in the light of the Zero Hour committee’s recommendations tabled in the Assembly, said health department officials.

The committee chaired by Avnish Kumar Singh tabled the report with its recommendation during the monsoon session of the Assembly. It was sent to the health department in September.

Singh had earlier told The Telegraph that in the course of its investigation it was found that the director was promoting the employees of Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) according to his whims and fancies.

Arun also held two posts at the health hub — director and head of anaesthesia department — simultaneously. This is against the rules of the Medical Council of India.

The Zero Hour committee looks into issues raised in the House, and it had started to investigate the IGIMS director after questions were raised about delayed promotion of the employees of the health hub.

On Wednesday, R.P. Ojha, additional secretary-cum-spokesperson, health, said: “The department has initiated steps for the implementation of the Zero Hour Committee’s recommendation. According to one of the recommendations, departmental proceeding has to be initiated against the IGIMS director. The director’s term is going to end soon but this does not mean that he would not have to face action. Departmental proceeding would be initiated against him.”

Ojha’s superior Deepak Kumar, principal secretary, health, however had no idea about the recommendations. “I have not gone through the report. So, I can’t tell you anything about it,” he said, while confirming that he had received a letter regarding this matter.

The committee has also recommended promotion for doctors, who were eligible for it between 2008 and 2011. It has also suggested that medics should be promoted within three months of becoming eligible.

The government, however, is not obliged to implement the suggestions. Recommendations made by the Zero Hour committee or any panel of the Assembly or Council is sent to the departments concerned, who take the final call on it.

Even though the health department is planning to initiate departmental proceedings against the IGIMS director, some of faculty members health hub feel that the action has been delayed.

“The health department got the letter from Assembly joint secretary Hareram Mukhiya in September. But no action has been taken yet. This shows that the health department is really not keen to initiate any steps against the IGIMS director,” said an IGIMS faculty member, who did not want to be named.

Asked about the recommendations of the Zero Hour committee, IGIMS director Arun Kumar said: “I know nothing about it, So, it is not possible for me to comment on it.”