Srinagar, Nov 26 (KNO): A junior pharmacist at the Directorate of Health Services office in Kashmir has reportedly assumed "undue authority" effectively overshadowing senior officials and exerting significant influence over administrative and operational matters. The pharmacist also misleads the employees creating a sorts of mistrust.
Reliable sources told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), despite his official position being limited to pharmaceutical responsibilities, the individual is said to be making decisions, issuing directives and influencing policies well beyond his scope of duty besides misleading the employees.
"This has created a hierarchical imbalance and raised eyebrows among employees and stakeholders alike, " sources said.
They said that the situation becomes even more concerning given that the Director of the Health Department, the top authority in the office, seems to be unaware of this power dynamic.
"This lack of oversight has not only allowed the junior pharmacist to overstep their boundaries but also brought into question the effectiveness of the leadership within the department," Sources said.
Sources within the department suggest that the pharmacist has gained this influence through personal networks, exploiting the absence of strict checks and balances.
A source said this has led to a culture where proper procedures are reportedly bypassed and favouritism taking precedence.
The development has sparked a growing chorus of complaints from employees and the public who worry about the broader implications of such a power imbalance.
Calls for immediate action are growing louder with demands for an internal investigation to determine how the situation was allowed to occur and who may have enabled this abuse of authority.
Stakeholders are urging the Director to step in and address the issue—(KNO)