An inquiry by the economic offences unit (EOU) of the police has found evidence that five doctors of Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) are indulging in private practice.

The inquiry was conducted on the basis of a recommendation made in 2013 by Arun Kumar, who was the IGIMS director at the time.

According to the IGIMS service rules, doctors working there cannot engage in private practice and violation of the norms would attract disciplinary action against them. The IGIMS doctors, in fact, get non-practising allowance which varies between Rs 25,000 and Rs 35,000 monthly, depending on the rank of the doctor. This is paid in addition to their salaries, which is in the range of Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.4 lakh monthly.

"Evidence showing private practice by doctors has been found during course of the inquiry. The work done by the doctors appears to be against the service rules. Hence this letter is being sent for further action," says the letter sent by inspector-general (EOU) J.S. Gangwar to the health department on March 27.

Sources in the health department said though the department could not initiate direct action against the doctors whose names figured in the EOU report, it can refer the case to the body of governors (BOG) of IGIMS. BOG, the apex governing body of the hospital, has to take the final decision in this matter. The governing body is headed by health minister Ramdhani Singh and also has the health secretary and the leader of Opposition as its members.

Department sources said the EOU letter would soon be forwarded to IGIMS for necessary action. IGIMS director Dr N.R. Biswas was not available for comment. But medical superintendent Dr S.K. Shahi said the IGIMS body of governors had already initiated action in a matter of similar nature in which six doctors have been accused of carrying out private practice.

Shahi said they were yet to receive any new letter from the health department on the five doctors investigated by the EOU.

Dr Sunil Kumar Singh, a member of the body of governors of IGIMS, said they would firmly deal with the case of private practice. Under rules, private practice is not allowed at IGIMS and any doctor found engaging in that could face dismissal from service, he added.