Udupi Public Forum to protest 'illegal' suspension of pathologist

UDUPI: Dr P V Bhandari, psychiatrist, said on Friday that various organizations, senior citizens, professionals, NGOs and common people, have formed Udupi Public Forum to seek justice for Dr Sharath Kumar Rao, who was suspended following allegations of fraud levelled against him by an NGO working for persons with HIV in September last year.
Dr Bhandari told reporters that a group of doctors and heads of various other organizations during their protest rally on October 4, had given the government 15 days to take decision on re-instating the pathologist.However, there was no response from the government and Udupi Public Forum will go ahead with the protest on October 19 at 10.30 am.
He said that a rally will be held from Clock Tower, Udupi, to MLA Pramod Madhwaraj's office, where a memorandum will be submitted to the MLA.
The rally will then proceed to the district government hospital. The memorandum will be submitted to the district surgeon.
Later, a public meeting will be held at Bhujanga Park in Ajjarakad till 1 pm. Permission has been sought from the authorities to hold a satyagraha in the form of medical camp, said Dr Bhandari. He called on the public to extend support to campaign by sending text messages to state health minister U T Khader on 9448383919 and principal secretary, family welfare and health department, Sivasailam N on 9448990310.
He said the message should say: ''We demand justice for Dr Sharath Kumar Rao. We condemn sustained human right violation against Dr Sharath Kumar Rao''.
Dr Bhandari also said that the enquiry commission, which was formed to probe the alleged irregularities done by Dr Sharath Kumar Rao, did not last long and dissolved midway.
And under general norms, a person, who is not accused of any criminal offence, should be re-instated before six months, a point not followed in Dr Rao's case, he lamented. Rev William Martis, Bykadi Suprasad Shetty and others were present at the press meet.