The management row over the Chennai based Devaki Hospital has further intensified with a member of the management committee alleging that Chithra Chockalingam, managing director of Devaki Hospital, had leveled false charges of irregularities in the kidney transplantations performed at the hospital.
According to a written statement from Dr.Ratnasabapathy, member of the management committee, the enquiry commission headed by the Additional Director of Medical Services (ADMS) to probe into the alleged irregularities 'could not find a single incidence of irregularity done by the nephrology department', after the license was surrendered to the Government on allegations of 'unscrupulous and unethical' behavior of the doctors in the department, during August 2003. According to him, the Directorate of Medical Services, Tamil Nadu had asked Chithra Chockalingam to substantiate her charges, and since her reply could not substantiate it, the Government had directed her to appear before the inquiry commission with relevant documents. Dr.Ratnasabapathy said, according to his knowledge, she had not turned up for the appointment, and as per the Government letter, it could be substantiated that the allegations were baseless and misleading the state.
Dr.Ratnasabapathy also said the recent press meet conducted by Chithra Chockalingam was to mislead the media, share holders and the public, and was done without the approval of the management committee or the Madras High Court. The statement also said the division bench of the Madras High Court had appointed Dr.Ratnasabapathy as co-member and advocate AL Somayalji as chairman superseding the board of Devaki Hospital, as per the order OSA/ 342/2003 dated December 17, 2003.
However, Chithra Chockalingam maintained that she was still the managing director of the hospital as the High Court had not deprived her of that position, and efforts were on to create an impression that she was not the managing director. Contradicting Dr.Ratnasabapathy's claim that the management or general body of the Devaki Hospital had never approved Chithra Chokalingam to use the funds of Devaki Hospital to construct a Rs.1000 crore hospital project, she reiterated the board members were informed of the project.
It is to be noted that Madras Medical Care & Health Centre, promoted by the nephrology department doctors of the hospital and minority stakeholders, are attempting to takeover the hospital with a majority stake.