Mohammad Mohsin, principal secretary in the department of medical education, Karnataka government, is not just a bureaucrat but also a news maker for initiatives taken in his various postings. A forthright and rule book officer of 1996 batch Karnataka cadre,  Mohsin  had to face the ire of the Election Commission, when he was posted as general observer in Sambalpur in Odisha during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.  He got into trouble for ordering the inspection of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's helicopter which led to his suspension. The Election Commission rules exempt Special Protection Group protectees from checkings. Mohsin challenged his suspension, which was revoked by the Central Administrative Tribunal. In an interview to Salar News, Mohsin dives into his journey of bureaucracy, politics, controversies and his personal life.

1. How will the state government implement  its decision to cancel the will or property deeds of children who abandon their parents by admitting them in hospitals as this will involve coordination of various departments?

The  issue of children leaving their parents in hospitals as  they will get shelter and food came to our notice when we reviewed the  functioning of the  Belagavi Medical Institute of Research. There were 27 people  though the Institute's  director had taken steps to contact the children and send the parents to them. But it was recurring and we had to take some steps to avoid  it. Though the nurses there are taking care of them, a 24/7 care is not possible. Moreso, those beds will be occupied by the parents. We have spoken to some NGOS and the women and child welfare department to accommodate them but they are finding it difficult. Hence, we decided to take action to make it a rule  of cancelling the will or property deeds and file cases.The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, empowers  us to  take action suo motu.

2. While the  issue of raising the  retirement age of government  employees  is a debatable one, the government is  considering increasing the superannuation of specialists from 60 years to 65 years. Will the move not lead to delay and denial of opportunities for the young doctors? 

We are talking of raising the retirement age of doctors who are in specialised services. In government hospitals, we have a shortage of doctors in the fields of cardiology, urology, oncology and nephrology. We cannot match the salary structure of the private hospitals. Therefore specialists who are working with us will feel secure if the retirement age is raised. If a senior staff member retires at the age of 60 years, we won't have faculty. It is not that the retirement age of every general doctor will be raised. 

3. New medical colleges have been started by the state government in the last couple of years in Chitradurga, Gadag, Kodagu, Raichur and Tumakuru with the nomenclature of them being research institutes. What research has been happening in these colleges?

The government has invested a lot of money in these new medical colleges and a sum of Rs 500 crore is required for starting a college. Since these medical colleges have specialists, we can do a lot of research. For instance, collaborations can be done with the Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Science or Indian Council of Medical Research or the Dharwad Institute of Mental Health Neurosciences with Nimhans. A lot of clinical trials keep happening and the quality of doctors will improve.

4. How does the government plan to handle the complaints against district health officers of their laidback style of functioning?

In some   district hospitals which come under the medical education department, we supervise them. But in certain district hospitals there are problems. Recently, I visited Bagalkot district hospital and I found certain deficiencies.  It had no district surgeon.

5. What were the findings of the audit report done in the wake of 348 maternal deaths in government hospitals in 2024? 

The government constituted committee visited hospitals in Ballari.  There was a quality issue with the company supplying IV fluids Ringer's Lactate in  West Bengal. The company has been blacklisted and a case filed against them.  

6. What safety measures has the medical education department  drawn up after the rape and murder  incident of a woman doctor trainee in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkota?

After the Kolkata incident, we have made  provisions of  separate restrooms  for women. If  the female doctors or interns are  staying overnight, rooms should be given. Vehicles to drop them home and CCTV cameras with control rooms are functioning round the clock. We have kept Pink Boxes for anybody to drop complaints. Shortly, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will be releasing the Violet book for medical colleges to follow the standard operating procedure (SOP), on what or how to handle if anything happens.

7.In your 29 years of service as an IAS officer in charge of revenue, labour, backward classes and now medical education, which has been the most challenging post?

Each post is different and each has its own challenges. As Gadag's deputy commissioner there were heavy rains and floods. Some labourers were marooned. I had to call for helicopters to rescue and also drop food to the marooned people as Gadag had never seen such flash floods. In medical education a lot of firefighting is there, while in the labour department we have to interact with the industries and the labour force. Their opinions differ and we have to work as an umpire.

8. Sometimes bureaucrats posted in districts endear themselves to the people there with their work. You became popular when posted as Vijayapura's deputy commissioner. What work did you take up there?

I worked in Vijapura in two capacities as the CEO of the zilla panchayat and deputy commissioner. I have not done anything special, but one practice I introduced was that anybody could come and meet me. I used to regularly travel across the district and interact with the people. The public had the comfort that there was someone to hear them. As deputy commissioner, I embarked on the encroachment and   city beautification drive. Also Vijayapura is a city which has a lot of monuments after Jaipur. Beautifying the city will bring tourists and Vijapura is one place where there are still tongas.

9.While most bureaucrats remain extremely cautious to not come across as anti-government on social media, your  tweets and retweets have been rather anti-establishment. In May 2020, the Karnataka government issued a show-cause notice to you for questioning the media for not highlighting the services of the Tablighi Jamaat members for donating plasma for treatment of Covid patients when you said: ``they will not show the humanity work done by these persons.''

I  personally feel   negative news sells in the media. Why doesn't  the media highlight the positive side as we have to bring positive vibes in the society. That was the reason I questioned the media. I will not say my questioning was anti establishment. I explained to the state government and  it accepted  my explanation. 

10.Six years down the line, do you stand by  your decision  that subjecting Prime Minister  Narendra Modi's helicopter for an inspection  in Sambalpur in Odisha  during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls was the right step for which you had to face the ire of the Election Commission in the form of suspension?

We have to follow the rules and whatever I did, it was as per rules. Till today nobody has  questioned me and in recent elections we have seen a lot of VVIPS  helicopters were  checked. Everybody has justified saying rules were followed. Whatever I did was as per rules and I stand by it. I have never violated rules and I  never will because I have taken an oath on the Constitution. I will follow the rules wherever I am posted whether  it's a short  or long term posting.  I have  no regrets  for doing it.

11. What got you interested in joining the civil services?

It's an interesting  story. My father was a businessman but I did not want to join his business and was interested in  civil services. I have  done M.Com from Patna university. I  was preparing for the civil services in Patna, but I was not doing justice and came to New Delhi, where I joined the Hamdard Study circle  in 1994. It was a dream  run for me and I was  there in the Circle for six months when I applied for the IAS prelims. I did not qualify and the Circle has rules that you go out of the coaching institute. I  decided not to go back home, stayed in New Delhi. After  two  months, another list  of those who had qualified in the prelims was announced and my name was there. I went  back to the Circle and  prepared for the Mains. Luck and stars were aligned, I qualified. In the second year, I qualified in all exams,  passed the IAS and was allotted  the Karnataka cadre. Within two years from scratch, I was able to qualify as  I am an  average student scoring 63% or 65 %. My advice to all  those aspiring  to join the civil services is  for two years, you have to take a sanyas and there is nothing that  can stop you except yourself!

Watch the interview on Salar Youtube channel @dailysalardigital

Link: https://www.youtube.com/embed/a0zibzMvBrY?si=dH3vB7rjTE1IH_Yq