Patiala, Feb. 23 -- The recent promotion orders of six doctors to the post of senior medical officers (SMOs) by the Punjab health department have sparked a row.

The promotion orders dated February 10 have created a furore as these six doctors are part of the 32 against whom the state health department, on December 19, 2023, had written to the Punjab Police to investigate and proceed as per law for submitting forged certificates during recruitment.

The health department had sought action against these doctors based on the findings of the Punjab and Haryana high court constituted special investigation team (SIT) that probed the 2008-09 doctors' recruitment scam.

As per the recent promotional orders, a copy of which is with HT, six of the...