Srinagar: All officers/officials/faculty members/ doctors working in Government Medical College Srinagar and it’s associated officials should refrain from posting any official information on social media, Principal GMC Srinagar Dr Samia Rashid said on Thursday. 

She said anyone found involved in uploading an official information related to Covid-19 pandemic shall be viewed seriously and action as per law shall be initiated against the involved person. However, her order evoked sharp criticism, with senior medicos and paramedical staffers terming it as an “open diktat” aimed at hiding Covid mismanagement and failures to tackle the pandemic.”

“It has been observed that the Officers/officials/faculty members/Doctors are divulging some official Information related to the COVID 19 pandemic on the Social Media without prior approval of the competent authority, which is bad in law and warrants action under the standing J&K Service Conduct Rules.

Such abhorrent action of Officers/officials/faculty members/Doctors is highly objectionable and is blatant violation of the instructions/orders conveyed by the Administrative Department/Government of Jammu and Kashmir from time to time,” reads the official circular issued by GMC Principal.

“As such, it is impressed upon all the Officers/officials/faculty members/Doctors working on the establishment of Government Medical College, Srinagar and its Associated Hospitals to refrain from such unlawful and unwarranted action. Henceforth any Officer/official/faculty member/doctor. whosoever found violating the set norms/instructions/orders issued by the Administrative Department/Government of Jammu and Kashmir and uploads any official Information related to COVID 19 pandemic shall be viewed seriously and action as warranted under relevant rules (Information Technology Act – Amendment 2020) shall be initiated against the delinquent Officer/official/faculty member/Doctor,” it further reads.

A senior medico posted with the GMC Srinagar said that basically the main aim of the order was to hide the failures and Covid mismanagement. “This gag order is an open diktat aimed at hiding failures and Covid mismanagement.

There are no antiviral drugs available at SMHS and the situation is grim as far as dealing with the Covid-positive cases is concerned. Infighting among the staff members is one of the reasons for the mismanagement,” he said, wishing not to be named. Many paramedical staffers echoed similar concerns.