Sassoon dean ’not unfit enough’ to occupy post

Activist says reply to his RTI query reveals incumbent has shown combined spine, arm and leg disability of 55%, while dean's post is reserved for person with 'only arm' or 'only leg' disability of over 40%

Sassoon dean 'not unfit enough' to occupy post

Hiding the truth? Sassoon Dean Ajay Chandanwaleu00a0has only 18%
disability in his arm, according to the RTI reply activist Shahid Raza
Burney says he got

Sassoon Dean Ajay Chandanwale

According to the RTI applicant, the post of dean of Sassoon was reserved for a person with OAA (only arm affected) or OLA (only leg affected) category, which is evident from the newspaper advertisement issued on March 7 for the post. Burney said that according to the RTI reply the dean had received a combined disability certificate of 55 per cent, which does not make him eligible for the post.

"The current dean has shown a combined disability in spine, arm and leg which amounts to a total of 55 per cent. According to the law, person in OLA or OAA category should have more than 40 per cent disability in either the arm or leg. There has been an error by the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) selection committee in his selection," said Burney.

He said according to the RTI papers Dr Chandanwale has only 18 per cent disability in his arm. "When he has a licence from Regional Transport Organisation (RTO), he drives a car and walks without a limp and moves about freely, what kind of handicap or disability is this?" said Burney. "The funny thing is that on the one hand Dr Chandanwale was appointed and simultaneously an inquiry was instituted to check if he was eligible for the post."

He said that by end of the month, a writ petition would be filed in the court against Dr Chandanwale's appointment and also an inquiry by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) would be demanded. MiD DAY spoke to Dr Pandurang Pawar, former medical superintendent of Sassoon General Hospital, who signed the certificate of combined disability issued to Dr Chandanwale. He said he was sure that Chandanwale was not eligible for the post.

"I remember the RTI application and also the certificate I had signed. It was combined disability and under the law OLA or OAA category means more than 40 per cent disability in either the arm or leg. Multiple disabilities will not qualify a candidate for the same post," he said.

The Other Side
When MiD DAY contacted Dr Ajay Chandanwale, dean of Sassoon General Hospital, he said that the rumours were being spread by people with vested interests and they were all false. "I have a total disability certificate of 55 per cent and I have cleared the selection process of the medical board and all subsequent committees.
u00a0
I know the RTI applicant and the allegations made by him are all false. I do not need to reply to him as my seniors in health ministry who have done the appointment are legally sound and have checked all eligibility criteria before giving the posting," said Chandanwale.

When enquired why a senior doctor from the hospital was also stating the same thing, he said he did not want to comment. "I know this applicant's interests and I also know the doctor well. People with vested interests are spreading rumours about me. If they wish, let them file a court case and I am ready to face them," he said.

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