MLA’s niece removed from Namma Clinic job after revelation of being full-time PG student in medical college

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A Namma Clinic in Karnataka. The Namma Clinic initiative is a public healthcare programme launched by the Karnataka government to provide free primary medical care services in urban centres across the State. | Photo Credit: File photo

The government of Karnataka has terminated the contract of a doctor in Bagalkot on the charge of working as an outsource health officer in a clinic in Bagalkot while being a full-time post-graduate student in a medical college.

As per an order issued by the commissionerate of health, Ankita Yaragal was relieved of her duties at the Namma Clinic at Wambe Colony in Bagalkot town after reports emerged that she was pursuing an MD course in a private medical college in the district. She was serving at the Namma Clinic on contract basis since April 2025.

A preliminary report by Gajanan Bale, zilla panchayat Chief Executive Officer, recommended that she be relieved.

A controversy erupted after media reports highlighted the fact that she is the daughter of Rajkumar Yaragal, the District Health Officer (DHO), and the niece of Umesh Meti, an MLA and a Congress leader. Raju Naik, a local activist, had alleged that Ankita Yaragal had joined a post-graduate course in pathology in March without resigning from her post in the government-run clinic.

A district-level inquiry was scheduled in Bagalkot on September 15. Ankita Yaragal did not attend the inquiry. She has been given another notice to report for the inquiry on September 18.

On September 15, Rajkumar Yaragal told reporters in Bagalkot that his daughter was appointed to the post in the government clinic by former DHO Manjunath Dodderi. He claimed that he had not released her salary after taking charge as DHO. He said he had instructed the taluk health officer to relieve her from duty.

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