The Maharashtra health department has suspended two assistant directors in Pune over alleged negligence in the implementation of child health and family planning programmes, and has ordered departmental inquiries against them.
Dr Rajkumar Jagtap and Dr Rajshree Gajanan Dhawale, both attached to the Family Welfare Office, were suspended after a review of the programmes found that they had not carried out field visits or fulfilled their supervisory and monitoring responsibilities, according to a report by Sakal – Pune.
Jagtap was responsible for child health-related work, while Dhawale was responsible for implementing the family planning programme across Maharashtra. Their office is located within the premises of the Aundh District Hospital in Pune.
The action followed a review meeting chaired by Dr Nipun Vinayak, Principal Secretary-1 of the state health department, on Monday, October 12. During the meeting, the two officials reportedly failed to provide satisfactory information about the current status of their respective programmes. The review also found that they had not discharged their field-level oversight responsibilities.
The department cited serious neglect of sensitive public health programmes and failure to show due commitment to assigned duties as the basis for the disciplinary action. The case highlights the administrative role of supervisory officers in programmes that depend on monitoring work carried out across health facilities and field networks.
The suspensions were ordered under the Maharashtra Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1979. The order was issued in the name of the Governor of Maharashtra by Anil Kumeriye, an officer of the relevant government section, the report said.
During the suspension period, Jagtap and Dhawale have been assigned the General Hospital in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar as their headquarters. They cannot leave the headquarters without permission from the competent authority. The order also prohibits them from taking up private trade, business or employment during the suspension period.
The department has warned that any violation of these conditions could lead to further disciplinary action. The departmental inquiries will determine the next course of action in the cases, while the immediate suspension places both officials outside their regular administrative responsibilities.
The action comes after a review of programme performance rather than a reported change in the health department’s child health or family planning policy. The available report does not provide details of the specific field visits missed, the geographic areas affected, or any quantified impact on beneficiaries. It also does not state the expected timeline for completion of the departmental inquiries.
