India, April 18 -- Facing backlash from within, the Punjab health department on Thursday withdrew its earlier directive that required civil surgeons and senior medical officers (SMOs) to send their leave applications directly to the principal secretary - the department's top administrative official.

Experts had criticised the directive, issued on April 4, as a setback to the ongoing efforts toward decentralisation of power. The move was reportedly prompted by instances where some civil surgeons and SMOs were found to be on "furlough" without proper authorisation, even skipping video conferences by citing leave.

The now-withdrawn order bypassed the established administrative chain by requiring direct leave applications to the principal s...