Lights, Camera And Notice? Delhi Doctor Takes 3-Year Leave To Make Films In Canada

Last Updated:September 06, 2025, 20:33 IST

The Health Ministry issued a notice to Dr Manju Subberwal on July 28 to explain her unauthorised absence from duty for three years while drawing a salary during this period.

Dr Manju Subberwal, a doctor in Delhi's GB Pant Hospital, is listed as a "filmmaker" in Canada. (AI-Generated Image)

In a curious case, the Union Health Ministry has issued a notice to a doctor in Delhi’s GB Pant Hospital, who is listed as a “filmmaker" based in Canada, to explain her unauthorised absence from duty for three years while drawing salary during this period.

The notice was issued to Dr Manju Subberwal on July 28, who was asked why action should not be initiated for non-compliance with rules and regulations related to government officials availing leave, according to records reviewed by The Indian Express.

The Health Ministry asked Dr Subberwal why the unauthorised absence should not be treated as a break in service, and why the allowance and pay disbursed during this period should not be recovered.

Subberwal is the former head of the biochemistry department at GB Pant Hospital. She was removed from the position nearly a month ago. On her Instagram account, she has described herself as a telly awards winner, filmmaker, writer and editor and medical doctor in Canada.

Her LinkedIn profile showed that she pursued a certification course in animation and later pursued a Bachelor of Creative Arts degree from the Toronto Film School from April 2022 to April 2025, specialising in cinematography and film/video production. She even had an IMDB page, where she made three films: Colors (2024), Totka (2021), and Yours Faithfully (2019).

Drawing A Full Salary While On Leave

Sources told The Indian Express that the ministry has requested information from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office regarding Subberwal’s visits to India during the period under investigation. The hospital has also prepared a chargesheet in the case that will be later submitted to the Ministry.

The action against Subberwal was initiated after a complaint was filed in May by an employee of GIPMER, the medical college associated with the GB Pant Hospital, which alleged that Subberwal went to Canada to pursue a filmmaking course in 2022 and was drawing a full salary.

The complainant accused Subberwal of “hatching a criminal conspiracy with another doctor from her department, who was signing all official papers on her behalf as head of the biochemistry department in her absence, without the approval of the competent authority".

Subberwal’s actions reportedly caused a “financial loss" of Rs 50 lakh to the exchequer. After the complaint, hospital authorities informed the Health Ministry. “Officials found a major lapse in her attendance, which had been going on for nearly three years. She would show up at the hospital for just a few days each year. Once, her husband also came to give back-dated leaves," a senior doctor at the hospital told The Indian Express.

As a doctor from the Central Health Services, Subberwal was entitled to 10 days of earned leave, 10 days of casual leave and 30 days of teaching leave every year. The maximum study time approved is 36 months for a post-graduate certification course, and the people are required to sign a bond to serve the government for at least five years after returning.

Aveek Banerjee

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international...Read More

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international...

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