Vigilance Exposes Manipulation of Dope Test Reports in Punjab; Recommends Stringent Measures

CHANDIGARH: A Startling revelation by the Vigilance Department in Punjab has brought to light major irregularities in the state's dope test procedures. The investigation, which focused on 4200 records, discovered errors in the test reports of 51 individuals, raising concerns over the credibility of the entire process.

Acting on the suspicions of manipulation of dope test reports in exchange for money, the Vigilance Department conducted surprise raids at multiple hospitals across the state. During the preliminary examination, officials found that photographs of several individuals who had undergone dope tests were missing from the registers.

The Vigilance Department has strongly recommended that the responsibility of maintaining dope test records should be assigned solely to regular employees. To ensure transparency, it has further suggested the videography of individuals during the test. The absence of photographs in the lab records of individuals applying for firearm licenses was particularly concerning, as these reports were later submitted to the police and civil administration confidentially. However, instances of information leaks to parties involved in conducting the dope tests came to light during the investigation.

In light of these findings, the Vigilance Department is urging strict action against high-ranking officials of the health department, along with an inquiry into the involvement of certain officials and employees. Additionally, the department is determined to prevent arms licenses from being issued to ineligible or intoxicated individuals, as 51 persons who obtained arms licenses through forgery are now under the vigilance radar.

To strengthen the dope test process, the Vigilance Department recommends hospitals maintain a copy of the test report in their records and ensure that doctors and technicians are rotated for conducting the tests. Any involvement of brokers in this process should be eliminated, and lab reports of senior officials must be signed. Furthermore, individuals should undergo examination and have the procedure videographed before providing urine samples.

A spokesperson from the Vigilance Bureau expressed concern over the deficiencies found in the process of conducting dope tests during the surprise checks at government hospitals. The absence of photographs in the registers and missing pages were cited as critical issues. The distribution of dope test reports to individuals informally, contrary to the established rules, was also highlighted.

The Vigilance Department stresses that manual reports should not be handed out to any person, emphasizing the need for stringent protocols to ensure the integrity of the dope test process. It aims to rectify these loopholes and maintain the credibility of the tests in the interest of public safety.