In an interesting yet disturbing trend, the obscene video fame Jharkhand health minister Banna Gupta chooses and appoints health secretary on his own without involving department of personnel, chief minister or chief secretary. The post was vacant since December 31, 2023.
Acting as the head of any private limited company, Banna Gupta, on his letter head, issued order giving additional charge of health secretary to national health mission director Alok Trivedi, who is an IAS officer promoted from state civil services.
What is the matter?
Arun Kumar Singh, a 1988 batch IAS officer, who was additional chief secretary medical and health department retired in December 31, 2023. Since then the post of secretary has been vacant. Health minister Banna Gupta, suo moto gives additional charge of health secretary to mission director without following any procedure.
What rule says
As per department of personnel rule, transfer or appointment of an IAS can be done only by chief minister or minister handling department of personnel. Though chief secretary has the power to give adhoc charge to any IAS officer for 30 days with his signature.
Former chief minsiter and BJP leader Babulal Marandi has asked chief minister to immediately quash the decision of health minister.
Writing on X, he has posted that the health minister has done many things going beyond his jurisdiction and rights. The appointment of health secretary is one of them. The health minister is his capacity cannot give additional charge of secretary to any one.
Who is Banna Gupta?
Banna Gupta is a controversial political from Congress who is an MLA from West Jamshedpur constituency. Last year he was caught in a controversy when an obscene video of his with a woman got viral. He claimed that both he and woman in the video are victim of political conspiracy.
Alok Mathur is a law graduate. Journalism is his first love which he now pursues in the latter half of his career. Controversies and crime are the right triggers for him.
