KNB Exclusive
Srinagar, 15 Feb(KNB): A private security services provider engaged by Government Medical College Srinagar and its associated hospitals is facing serious allegations of large-scale financial irregularities, including systematic overbilling, misuse of public funds, and diversion of security personnel for non-contractual duties, with some guards allegedly deployed as domestic help at the private residences of officials.
Documents examined as part of an internal review of billing practices reveal wide discrepancies between approved rates and the amounts charged by the firm. In 2020, the Rate Contracts Committee of GMC Srinagar fixed a uniform monthly rate of ₹9,259 per security guard. However, records show the agency charged significantly higher and inconsistent rates across hospitals operating under the same contract.
According to available documents, the firm charged ₹14,973 per guard at Bone & Joint Hospital, Barzulla, citing a “semi-skilled” category. At Kashmir Nursing Home, Gupkar, the rate was ₹12,662, while Children’s Hospital, Bemina, was billed ₹12,418. LD Hospital and SMHS Hospital, Srinagar, were charged ₹10,847 each. The Psychiatric Disease Hospital, Srinagar, was billed ₹9,641, while the Chest Disease Hospital, Srinagar, was the only institution charged the approved rate of ₹9,259. For the Super Specialty Hospital, Shireen Bagh, a rate was listed in records but the exact figure was not available.
Officials familiar with the contract said the variation in rates has no contractual or legal basis, suggesting what they described as arbitrary invoicing that may have resulted in substantial excess payments from the public exchequer.
Beyond the financial irregularities, the alleged misuse of manpower has raised serious concern. Security guards paid from hospital funds were reportedly assigned duties unrelated to security, including work as nursing orderlies and general nursing assistants, clerical staff in Accounts, Legal and Dispatch sections, front desk attendants at OPD rooms and information counters, and even domestic helpers at the private homes of certain officers.
Sources said this diversion of personnel has reduced effective security deployment at major healthcare facilities, potentially compromising safety for patients and staff, while the agency continues to draw payments at the sanctioned or inflated rates.
The firm’s contract, which had originally expired, continues to remain in force after it obtained an interim stay from the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. No fresh tender has been floated since, allowing the company to operate for years beyond the original contract period. Critics allege the interim legal protection has been used to perpetuate irregular practices.
Legal experts said the alleged pattern of overbilling, inconsistent pricing and diversion of security staff could attract provisions of the Indian Penal Code relating to cheating, fraud, criminal breach of trust and misappropriation. The actions may also amount to serious contractual violations, warranting civil recovery and departmental proceedings.
There are growing demands for immediate termination of the contract, a comprehensive forensic audit of all payments made since 2020, recovery of excess amounts paid, a high-level inquiry into the diversion of security staff, and initiation of a fresh, transparent tendering process for hospital security services.
Senior officials at GMC Srinagar said they are “looking into the matter” but declined to comment further. The security agency did not respond to requests for a statement.(KNB)