ASHISHPURI
The Civil Surgeon of Kapurthala, Dr. Richa Bhatia, has been suspended with immediate effect. She will have her headquarters in Chandigarh during the suspension. Principal Secretary Kumar Rahul acted on Friday after multiple complaints were received against the civil surgeon. She was acted against for her uncooperative and stubborn attitude.
According to letter no. DHS/E30SM-19-2025/ESTB 3-DHS, dated March 27, 2025, the Director of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Punjab, Dr. Richa Bhatia, has been suspended with immediate effect for her continued defiant attitude. This suspension was ordered on the instructions of Principal Secretary Kumar Rahul of the Department of Health and Family Welfare.
During the period of suspension, her headquarters has been made the office of the Director of Health and Family Welfare in Chandigarh. According to the rules, the suspended civil surgeon will be paid a subsistence allowance during this time. The letter explicitly mentions that this order has been passed with the approval of the competent authority.
Simultaneously, health workers also organized a protest at the office of the civil surgeon in Kapurthala Civil Hospital in the morning on Friday on charges of her refusing to cooperate. Subsequently, they approached Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar Panchal with a memorandum.