NAROWAL, April 14: The Punjab ombudsman has declared the appointments of five homoeopaths illegal.

The ombudsman ruled this while taking up a complaint by an aggrieved candidate. He also recommended action against the recruitment committee chairman and members under efficiency and discipline rules. The committee which appointed homoeopaths against the rule consists of the district coordination officer as chairman and executive district officers of health and finance and planning and health district officer as members.

The Narowal Health Department appointed five homoeopaths in public hospitals in the district a few months ago.

Ghulam Ghaus Butt, who was among the rejected candidates, challenged the appointments before the Punjab ombudsman. The ombudsman declared all the five appointments illegal and against prescribed rules. The ombudsman directed the Narowal Health Department to terminate the beneficiaries and also directed the health secretary to initiate departmental action against the health EDO and the health DO. The ombudsman also directed the health secretary to refer the matter to the chief secretary for proceedings against the DCO and the finance and planning EDO.