Dr Rajesh Gour, Dean of Datia medical college is facing corruption charges, as a complaint has been filed against him with the Special Police Establishment (SPE) of Lokayukta in connection with an alleged massive staff nurse recruitment scam in which a huge number of appointments have been made without following reservation rules. After preliminary investigation, if the charges are proved, an FIR might be registered against him.

Lokayukta SP of Gwalior Sanjeev Sinha told 'The Pioneer', "A complaint had been filed in connection with the nurse recruitment scam allegedly happened in the Datia medical college. After a primary investigation into the matter, the report was sent to the Lokayukta headquarters Bhopal for further action."

Instead of taking any action against Dr Gour, the Department of Medical Education (ME) simply shifted him from Datia medical college to his native post in Gajra Raja Medical College, Gwalior two months ago after the matter came to the fore. The ME department completed its responsibility only by banning the recruitment of nursing, paramedical and non-education staff till further orders.

Notably, around 220 staff nurses have been recruited in Datia medical colleges through an exam conducted by MP Online. The college has given appointments to the candidates ignoring the rules and regulations made for reserved categories by the general administration department and the guidelines of the high court. The matter came to fore in an internal audit of the ME department in which massive irregularities were found in staff nurse recruitment at Datia and Gwalior medical colleges. When contacted, Dr Gour said that he cannot comment on this matter till the government's decision.

ACS, ME department on October 12 had instructed the Commissioner to examine the staff nurses' recruitment-related documents of the medical colleges, Datia and Gwalior. The undersecretary of the DME on November 8 wrote a letter to the Commissioner of ME Nishant Warbade in this regard. Around 278 staff nurses have also been appointed by GRMC Gwalior.

After examining the documents, ME department had found huge irregularities of violating rules of the General Administration Department made for reserved categories of Schedule Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).

The DME on November 24 wrote to the Divisional Commissioner Gwalior to inquire into the matter and sought a report deciding accountability, causes of irregularities, and options for the correction.