Exposing the fake

Recently the Crime Branch of Jammu & Kashmir Police produced a charge sheet against a fake Unani Doctor from Ganderbal who had obtained class 12th marks certificate fraudulently to get admission in Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery-BUMS course many years back. The BUMS degree obtained by this fraudster paved a way for him to get a job in the Health Department J&K Government under the National Health Mission-NHM programme. The J&K Govt finally dismissed this fake Unani Doctor but the aggrieved BUMS doctor who was supposed to get this job has still not got justice even after 10 years? In 2014 Dr Zaffar Shaheen, a qualified BUMS graduate who was eligible to get a job under RBSK programme in district Ganderbal was bypassed by the district level selection committee, and a class 12^th fail person who had obtained a fake marks certificate was given this job. Aggrieved Unani doctor Zaffar Shaheen didn’t relent, he fought against this injustice and exposed the fake BUMS doctor.

Case Background

In 2013 Govt invited applications for appointment of Medical Officers (Ayush) for Rashtriya Bal Swastha Kariakram-RBSK under National Health Mission-NHM for block Kangan in district Ganderbal. After the selection process headed by the district level selection committee headed by Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal , one Shahid Ul Islam a resident of Preng Ganderbal was appointed to the aforementioned position. The then Chief Medical Officer-CMO Ganderbal under the order No. 08 DRSHG of 2014 dated 20-01-2014 issued orders of appointment in favour of the accused. Shahid Ul Islam. This person had obtained a BUMS degree from the Institute of Asian Medical Sciences J&K associated with the University of Kashmir. The said doctor also managed to get himself registered as a Medical Practitioner from the Board of Ayurvedic/ Unani System of Medicine J&K.

Dr Zaffar Shaheen who hails from Manigam Ganderbal had also applied for the said position in pursuance to advertisement notification issued on 13-10-2013 in Srinagar based newspapers. Despite good merit Zaffar was dropped and another person, named Shahid was selected fraudulently. This was later on authenticated by the Mission Director National Health Mission J&K and Kashmir University as well and now the same has been proved by the Crime Branch of J&K Police also.

The appointment of Shahid was possible only after he obtained the degree certificate issued by Institute of Asian Medical Sciences J&K, Zakura Srinagar. The completion of BUMS degree as a regular student and the compulsory Rotatory Internship of one year was totally doubtful. Zaffar Shaheen had moved an application against the selection of Shahid especially questioning his compulsory rotatory internship. The certificate issued by the Institute of Asian Medical Sciences, Zakura under serial number 191 dated 29-08-2013 was showing that Shahid underwent internship in various Institutes without seeking any permissions. He also produced a certificate of experience showing that he had worked on a voluntary basis from Oct 2009 to Oct 2012 at a local Primary Health Centre-PHC in Nunar Ganderbal and gained experience. The fact is that he was a regular student in Asian Medical Institute Zakura Srinagar until June 2010 when he appeared for BUMS final exams. The representation filed before CMO Ganderbal went to DC Ganderbal who directed the CMO to take legal action against Shahid and relieve him from the job, but the then CMO Ganderbal allegedly gave clearance to the accused and he continued to remain working, and during this time he also misled court of law as well and obtained some relief by suppressing the facts about his fake academic certificates.

From 2014 onwards aggrieved job aspirant Dr Zaffar Shaheen produced documentary proof by obtaining information under RTI from different institutions, Govt offices and J&K School Board. Zaffar Shaheen got details of his internship certificate, class 12^th certificate etc., which turned out to be fake and fictitious.

The class XII (10 2) marks card submitted by Shahid for getting provisional registration from the Board of Ayurvedic and Unani System of Medicine and then subsequent employment as Medical Officer in NHM indicated that he has passed 10 2 examination in the annual session of year 2003 J&K Board of school Education and had secured 305 out to 600 marks.

Obtaining Fake 10 2 certificate

Dr Zaffar Shaheen (aggrieved BUMS doctor) obtained information using RTI Act from J&K Board of School Education -BOSE. This revealed that one Parveena Bano D/o Mohammad Younis Raina bearing Registration No. K-99-52358-5058 had appeared as a candidate in the annual Regular Session for Class-12^th in the year 2003 and had failed to pass the examination, the result that has been declared against this roll number “reappear General English , Political Science”. The information was received by Dr Zaffar Shaheen from the Public Information Officer -PIO J&K BOSE Kashmir Division under communication No. F766(Inf./RT)B/KD/21 dated 03.12.2021.On the basis on this information the only conclusion that could be drawn was that Shahid had obtained admission in the BUMS Degree course at Institute of Asian Medical Sciences Zakura Srinagar on the basis of a forged, fake 10 2 marks card. The said person had never qualified the 10 2 examination which is an essential requirement for the admission in BUMS course.

It took Dr Zaffar Shaheen almost 6 years to get these details and in December 2021 a representation was made to the Registrar University of Kashmir, Registrar Board of Ayurvedic and Unani System of Medicine and also to the Secretary J&K Board of School Education. A representation was also sent to Mission Director J&K National Health Mission -NHM who had assured that they will inquire into the matter and take appropriate action.

Conclusion

On the advise of Government the Mission Director J&K National Health Mission already terminated the services of Shahid vide order No 178 of 2022 dated 12/10/2022. The Controller of Examinations University of Kashmir also cancelled his BUMS degree through a notification issued under official letter No:F(BUMS-Certs-Exams)Ku/23 dated 26/04/2023 and now the Crime Branch of J&K has filed a detailed charge sheet before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Ganderbal. An FIR No. 17/2023 has been filed against the accused for his involvement in commission of offence punishable under section 420,465,468,471,201 of Indian Penal Code-IPC. Will the Government give justice to Dr Zaffar Shaheen by giving him his Job for which he was entitled 10 years back ? Zaffar should not only be appointed as Medical Officer (Ayush) under NHM (RBSK) with full honor and dignity but Govt must also provide him with a 10 years salary as well.

We must salute the courage and commitment of Dr Zaffar Shaheen for his struggle to unmask a fake doctor inspite of all odds. Zaffar has not been able to even practice medicine during last 10 years and suffered huge financial losses and faced mental trauma as well. He has two daughters who are both deaf and mute and that has also been a great family challenge for him. The way Dr Zaffar Shaheen has used RTI law to expose the fake Unani doctor and his fictitious marks sheets and degrees is also highly appreciated. The trial court must take stern action against the fake BUMS doctor and also initiate action against the Govt officials especially the then CMO of Ganderbal and other officials who helped an unqualified person and appointed him as doctor in Health Department. This needs to be probed and action be taken against such officials .

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat is an Acumen Fellow. He is Chairman and Founder Jammu & Kashmir RTI Movement