Medical officer’s suicide: Health Department asks staff to explain

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 22

The Health Department has initiated investigations into the delay in the release of pension benefits to deceased Senior Medical Officer Arun Sharma after his wife Dr Sonia Sharma committed suicide on Monday.

In a letter written to a senior assistant and a dealing clerk from the administrative staff, the Health Department has asked them to give an explanation.

Her husband died after contracting Covid

Dr Sonia, a medical officer with the Municipal Corporation here, had allegedly consumed some poisonous substance, after which she was admitted to a private hospital. Earlier, her husband Dr Arun Sharma, a senior medical officer at Jallianwala Bagh Martyrs Memorial Civil Hospital, had died on August 30 after contracting Covid-19.

The said employees have been asked to furnish the details regarding receiving the documents regarding the benefits and the date on which these were forwarded to the treasury to ascertain that if there was any delay in disbursal of the benefits.

The Health Department after the death of Dr Sonia on Monday had stated that the compensation of Rs50 lakh announced by the government for corona warriors in case of death has already been disbursed to the family. The department had stated that the provisional pension had also been started. It was also stated that the disbursal of other benefits was in process and approval had already been granted for the same.

Dr Sonia, a medical officer with the Municipal Corporation here, had allegedly consumed some poisonous substance, after which she was admitted to a private hospital. Earlier, her husband Dr Arun Sharma, a senior medical officer at Jallianwala Bagh Martyrs Memorial Civil Hospital, had died on August 30 after contracting Covid-19.

The employees association at the Civil Hospital had also brought the matter of delay in the disbursal of benefits to the family of Dr Arun to the notice of Health Minister last month. Sources close to the family said Dr Sonia was upset after the death of her husband due to delay in disbursal of benefits.