BMCH Chief Faces Tough Questions Over Alleged Opaque PMBJK Selection

The administrative credibility of Barpeta Medical College and Hospital (BMCH) has come under intense scrutiny after a formal complaint to the Government of Assam alleged that the selection process for establishing a Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendra (PMBJK) was conducted in a manner that bypassed transparency and competitive public procurement.

At the centre of the controversy is Principal-cum-Chief Superintendent Dr. Ramen Talukdar, the institution’s highest administrative authority, whose stewardship is now being questioned over allegations that the process departed from the very standards of openness and accountability expected of a premier government medical institution.

According to the grievance, the complainant was allegedly assured that the PMBJK would be allotted only through an open tender published on the Assam Government’s e-Tender Portal or the GeM Portal. Instead, the complaint claims that an offline Expression of Interest (EOI), reportedly limited to existing operators, was conducted without any public advertisement or notification.

If these allegations withstand official scrutiny, they would represent more than a procedural lapse. They would raise fundamental questions about whether BMCH’s administration upheld the principles of equal opportunity, transparency and financial prudence in the management of public resources.

The complaint further alleges that no competitive financial bidding was conducted before the reported selection. Such an omission, if proven, could have denied the Hospital Management Society the opportunity to maximise public revenue through open competition—a basic expectation in public procurement.

As the administrative head of BMCH, Dr. Ramen Talukdar cannot remain insulated from questions surrounding the process. Leadership in a public institution carries not only authority but accountability. When allegations of this nature emerge, the responsibility to provide a clear, documented and convincing explanation rests squarely with the institution’s leadership.

The controversy is not merely about who may ultimately operate a Janaushadhi Kendra. It is about whether public institutions can selectively depart from transparent procedures without eroding public confidence. A government medical college is expected to be an example of good governance, not a source of avoidable controversy.

The Government of Assam now faces the responsibility of determining whether the selection process complied with established procurement norms. If deficiencies are established, a fresh, transparent and competitive tender process would be essential to restore confidence.

At the time of publication, neither BMCH nor Dr. Ramen Talukdar had publicly responded to the allegations contained in the grievance. The allegations remain unverified and are subject to official examination.