Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Nov 11: Government rules are reportedly being violated in the newly established Government Medical Colleges, as staff engaged in academic arrangements are being assigned administrative posts, while deserving candidates are forced to work under them.
Top health officials informed that when new medical colleges were established in Jammu and Kashmir, there was a shortage of doctors and other paramedics. To address this gap, the government decided to give retired doctors and paramedics an opportunity to serve on academic arrangements.
In this context, the Health and Medical Education (H&ME) Department issued a notification in January 2019 – SRO 24 of 2019. It strictly directed that retired doctors engaged in academic arrangements should not hold any administrative post.
The notification states, “Staff engaged in teaching posts shall be put on teaching and research duties and shall not be assigned any administrative duties at any level, such as the positions of Principal, Head of the Department, and Head of the Unit.”
However, in violation of these orders, staff engaged in academic arrangements have been holding administrative posts in these medical colleges.
At GMC Anantnag, Dr Sheikh Mushtaq, who was engaged in academic arrangements, is holding the administrative post of the head of the Department of Pediatrics, while the deserving candidate, Associate Professor Dr Showkat Hussain Tali, is being forced to work under the one engaged under academic arrangements.
Official sources reveal that Dr Showkat Hussain has even approached the court regarding this matter and is awaiting justice. They said the differences between the two doctors are affecting patients, students and other staff.
“Higher-ups are aware of such issues, but no positive steps have been taken,” they said.
They have urged the immediate attention of the Chief Secretary and Secretary Health and Medical Education to ensure that deserving staff promotions are not affected and that staff engaged in academic arrangements do not hold any administrative posts.
If the government implements its own orders, it will contribute to the improvement of healthcare facilities and ensure that patients and students do not suffer due to such internal conflicts.
