CM Dhami revokes the transfer and resignation of Dr. Nidhi Uniyal, Associate Professor of Doon Medical College n orders an inquiry in a controversy between her n health secretary of UK

The chief minister of Uttarakhand Pushkar Singh Dhami has put the lid on the controversy between the health secretary and an associate professor of Doon Medical college Dehradun by not only revoking the resignation letter of Dr. Nidhi Uniyal but has also ordered an inquiry to bring forth the reasons that resulted in Dr. Uniyal submitting her resignation letter in protest complaining about the high handed attitude of the Uttarakhand health secretary Mr. Pandey and his ailing wife. The matter invited the media hype creating lot of controversy with the associate professor accusing the health secretary of harrasment and high handed treatment compelling her to tender apology from his wife without her being at fault, which she refused to comply with. Annoyed with the Associate professor of Doon medical university the health secretary Mr. Pandey transferred her to Soban Singh Jeena Medical college in Almora to which Dr. Uniyal protested submitting her resignation letter. In her letter sent to the Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department, Government of Uttarakhand associate professor Dr Nidhi Uniyal accused the Secretary health, govt of Uttarakhand of high handed behavior tendering her resignation. In her resignation letter Dr. Uniyal in response to her transfer orders to Soban Singh Jeena College of Medical Sciences, Almora wrote that she was asked to attend the ailing wife of Health Secretary, IAS Punkaj Pandey at her residence. Leaving the staff of two of her hospitals and unattended patients of running OPD unattended she visited the residence of Mr. Pandey. She duly examined his ailing wife but since she had left the BP machine in her car outside, the wife of the health Secretary resorted to un pleasantry words demeaning to her profession and conduct, to which she objected and came back. She was later on asked to tender her apology to the health secretary’s wife to which she refused saying that since she wasn’t at fault, they why should she tender apology? She added that this is kind of toxic and I am a qualified and trained doctor from India’s, premier colleges. Demanding action against the health secretary Dr. Uniyal tendered her resignation, a brave step say people in social media. However, sensing the gravity of the situation and the posts arriving in social media in bulk, the chief minister instead of taking the side of a senior bureaucrat, health secretary, preferred to ask the officers not to accept the resignation and instead ordered a high level inquiry. He also revoked the transfer orders immediately, lauded by all including the victim Dr. Nidhi Uniyal who thanked the CM for his benevolent attitude towards her.

Kindly recall that there is tremendous annoyance of the people towards uncontrolled bureaucracy in Uttarakhand for delaying decisions, superimposing themselves on politicians and literally ruling the roost. It remains to be seen to be seen as to what comes out of the probe ordered by the CM in this case of a fight between an Associate Professor of Doon Medical College and the Health Secretary?