The move came two days after the state government cancelled November 30, 2020 contract agreement for engagement of Dr K Rajo as director of Medical & Health Services after the high court quashed the agreement on January 22, 2021
TFM Desk
In a move that could get into yet another legal tangle with courts, the Manipur government on Saturday engaged Dr K Rajo as the director of Health Services, Manipur again on contract basis. The development came two days after the state government cancelled November 30, 2020 contract agreement for engagement of Dr K Rajo as director of Medical & Health Services after the high court quashed the agreement on January 22, 2021 and refused to review its order.
A letter written to the director of Health Services, Manipur by deputy Secretary (Health & FW) Government of Manipur, Soiminlian Lengen on Saturday stated that Dr K Rajo was engaged as director of Health Services, Manipur on contract basis as provided under sub rule (3) of Rule 11 of the Manipur Health Services (Amendment) Rules, 2021 with immediate effect and until further orders.
“This engagement is made in view of the urgency due to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic. The engagement is subject to ex post facto approval of the State Cabinet and concurrence of DP and FD/PIC, and signing of contract agreement,” it added.
On May 6, deputy Secretary (Health & FW) Government of Manipur, Soiminlian Lengen issued an order in the name of the governor of Manipur cancelling the contract agreement signed on November 30, 2020 between the State Health Department and Dr. K. Rajo Singh for engagement of the later on contract basis to hold charge of the post of director of Medical & Health Services, Manipur with immediate effect incompliance of Orders dated 22/01/2021 passed by the High Court of Manipur in the W.P. (C) No. 638 of 2020, and also in compliance of Order dated 12/03/2021 passed by High Court of Manipur in the Review Petition No. 3 of 2021.
A contract agreement was signed between the State Health Department, Government of Manipur and Dr. K. Rajo Singh on November 30, 2020 for contract engagement of Dr Rajo to hold the charge of the post of Director of Medical & Health Services, Manipur for a period of six months w.e.f. 01/12/2020 to 31/05/2021 after his retirement as Director of Medical & Health Services, Manipur on superannuation w.e.f. 30 November, 2020.
The said contract agreement was signed as per approval given by the State Cabinet in its meeting held on 10th November, 2020 and as advised by the Department of Personnel, Government of Manipur and also as per concurrence given by the Finance Department (PIC), Government of Manipur under UO No 175/2020-2021/FD (PIC) dated 30/11/2020, the May 6 order stated.
The said contract engagement was challenged by Dr. P. Shyamsunder Singh by filing W.P. (C) No. 638 of 2020 before the High Court of Manipur and the Single Bench of High Court in its Order dated 22/01/2021 passed in the said W.P (C) No.638 of 2020 quashed the contract engagement of Dr. K. Rajo Singh as Director of Medical & Health Services, Manipur and the Writ Appeal (C) No. 5 of 2021 which was filed against the Single Bench’s Order dated 22/02/20201 was dismissed by the High Court as withdrawn leaving it open to the appellants to take recourse to appropriate remedies available to the Respondent Government in relation to the Order dated 22/01/2021 of the High Court.
The May 6 order further stated that a Review Petition No. 3 of 2021 was filed by the State Respondents in order to review the Single Bench’s Order dated 22/01/2021. However, the said Review Petition was also dismissed by the High Court in its Order dated 12/03/2021.
“A Contempt Case (C) No. 25 of 2021 was also filed for non-compliance with the Orders dated 22/01/2021 passed in W.P.(C) No.638 of 2020 and when the contempt case was taken up by the High Court on 28/04/2021, the learned Additional Advocate General has given an undertaking on behalf of the respondents before the Court that the respondents would comply with the Orders of the Court,” the May 6 order stated.