Asiya Neelofar case: Government terminates two doctors

Shopian, June 22: Government has terminated two doctors who were part of the post-mortem team in the infamous Asiya Neelofar Shopian rape and murder case.

The Lieutenant Governor on Thursday ordered termination of services of two doctors under clause (2) of Article 311 of the Constitution of India.

“The Lieutenant governor is satisfied after considering the facts and circumstances of the case and on the basis of the information available, that the activities of Dr. Nighat Shaheen Chiloo, Consultant Gynecologist in the Sub-District Hospital, Chadoora, Budgam (Health and Medical Education Department) D/o G.Q. Chiloo R/o Sanat Nagar, Srinagar are such as to warrant her dismissal from service,” reads a government order, a copy of which lies with GNS.

“The Lieutenant Governor is satisfied under sub- clause (c) of the proviso to clause (2) of Article 311 of the Constitution of India that in the interest of the security of the State, it is not expedient to hold an enquiry in the case of Dr. Nighat Shaheen Chiloo….and accordingly, the Lieutenant Governor hereby dismisses (her) from service, with immediate effect.”

Similar worded order has been passed against Dr. Bilal Ahmad Dalal, Medical Officer, NTPHC Takiya Imam, Shopian (Health and Medical Education Department) of Hergam, Shopian.

“…the Lieutenant Governor hereby dismisses Dr. Bilal Ahmad Dalal, Medical Officer, NTPHC Takiya Imam, Shopian (Health and Medical Education Department) S/o Ghulam Rasool Dalal R/o Hergam, Shopian from service, with immediate effect.”

Notably, Omar Abdullah-led government back in 2009 had suspended both these doctors who had conducted the two autopsies. Dr Nighat’s report indicated rape of both women and her findings were substantiated by a forensic report. However, shortcomings in the autopsy meant the cause of death could not be forensically established.

Dr Nighat Shaheen has allegedly been accused of conspiring to defame, discredit and cause injury to the personnel of police and security forces and to get them wrongfully convicted for a capital offense by creating false reports.

Dr Bilal Ahmad Dalal has been accused by CBI of wrongly mentioning the lacerated wound on the frontal portion of Asiya Jan’s head as incised wound. It has also accused the doctor of falsely opining on the cause of death as haemmorhagic shock and bleeding from multiple injuries in the case of Asiya Jan and neurogenic shock in the case of Neelofar Jan.

Even the then-Jan Commission had taken note of lapses by doctors in conducting autopsies.

Though sources confirmed the termination of Dr Bilal Ahmed Dalal and Dr Nighat Shaheen, however, there was so far no word from an official quarter in this regard. [with inputs from KNT]