New Delhi: Attending a China-based webinar, and “leaking research papers to foreign entities” — these are among the reasons the Union health ministry has listed for suspending K.S. James, director of the Mumbai-based Indian Institute of Population Sciences (IIPS), ThePrint has learnt.
The IIPS comes under the health ministry and designs the four-yearly National Family Health Survey (NFHS), for which it also collects and collates data.
James has been placed under suspension by the health ministry since 27 July, pending an inquiry.
The suspension has come under flak from the Opposition, with former Union minister and Congress leader Jairam Ramesh citing a news report on the matter in a tweet raising questions about the decision.
“When the data does not support the narrative being peddled by the Prime Minister and his drumbeaters, the Modi government will do one or all of the following: 1. Deny access to data. 2. Dispute the methodology into question. 3. Discard the data. 4. Discontinue its publication. 5. Defame those in charge of collating and putting it out.”
On 29 July, a note released by the ministry said that a government fact-finding committee had found prima facie irregularities in 11 of 35 complaints it had received against James and other IIPS officials. It, however, did not clearly mention the complaints in question.
According to a document prepared by the ministry on the alleged irregularities that led to James’ suspension — accessed by ThePrint — the fact-finding committee found irregularities in appointment of staffers, purchases, construction of new buildings and utilisation of funds under James, apart from the fact that he attended a China-based webinar and “leaked research papers”.
The document says an investigation has been launched to probe the allegations against him.
“These are serious allegations and we are carrying out a detailed investigation on these charges,” a highly placed official in the ministry told ThePrint.
ThePrint reached Union Health Secretary Sudhansh Pant for his comments on the matter over the phone but he was not available for a response.
Calls to James went unanswered too despite multiple attempts.
In the 29 July note, the ministry said that James’ “suspension is not a punishment but resorted to in specific circumstances to pave the way for fair and free investigation”.
“The suspension initially is for a period of 90 days or completion of further investigation, whichever is earlier, which is revocable with the approval of the Suspension Revocation Committee Review Committee in the Ministry,” it added.
The note said the “prima facie irregularities” under investigation were “mainly regarding lapses observed in certain appointments, engagement of faculty, reservation rosters, dead stock registers”.
“The FFC (fact-finding committee) has recommended detailed inquiry against the concerned registrars for the corresponding period and also the concerned director,” it added.
(Edited by Sunanda Ranjan)
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