Odisha Health Department Suspends Doctor Assigned to Berhampur Circle Jail

In a move that caught many off guard, the Health and Family Welfare Department of Odisha announced the immediate suspension of a doctor serving at the Berhampur Circle Jail. The official order, released on September 20, 2026, identifies the officer as Dr. Susanta Kumar Panigrahi, a Group‑A (JB) LTRMO from City Hospital, Berhampur, who had been posted to the jail as a specialist in psychiatry.

According to the department’s communication, the suspension is not merely punitive; it paves the way for a disciplinary proceeding against Dr. Panigrahi. The competent authority invoked clause (b) of Sub‑Rule (1) of Rule‑12 under the Odisha Civil Services (CC&A) Rules, 1962, to place the doctor on hold with immediate effect.

During the suspension period, Dr. Panigrahi is required to remain at his headquarters—City Hospital in Berhampur—and cannot leave without prior permission from the competent authority. While he is barred from his duties at the jail, the order clarifies that he will continue to receive a subsistence allowance in line with Rule‑90 of the Odisha Service Code.

The decision has stirred discussion among prison officials and medical professionals alike, with some questioning the impact on inmate mental‑health services and others emphasizing the need for accountability within the civil services.

For now, the matter sits pending further investigation, and the department has not disclosed the specific allegations that prompted the disciplinary action.