Appointment of HoDs on rotational basis creates furore among faculty members in GMCs in Jammu, Srinagar

Medical Teachers seek roll back of H&ME Deptt order

VIVEK SHARMA

JAMMU: The appointment of Heads of Departments (HoDs) in the premier Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) of Jammu and Srinagar on rotational basis has created furore and generated resentment among the faculty members, who are up against the Health and Medical Education Department, seeking rollback of the controversial order.
The order, issued by the Health and Medical Education Department, states that in a Department with one Professor, the same Professor shall continue to be Head of Department (HoD) and in Departments with multiple Professors, the post of HoD will be on the rotational basis amongst the Professors every two years, as per seniority.

• Dr. Sushil Sharma HoD Cardiology (OM) to be replaced by Dr. Dharminder Kumar (reserved candidate)
• Dr. Ashok Sharma HoD Eye (OM) to be replaced by Dr. Sanjay Kai (reserved candidate)
• Dr. Sangeeta Gupta HoD Anatomy (OM) to be replaced by Dr. Nusrat Jabeen (reserved candidate)
• Dr. Ghanshyam Saini HoD Pediatric (OM) to be replaced by Dr. Sanjeev Dingra (reserved candidate)
• Dr. Parmod Kalsotra HoD ENT (OM) to be replaced by Dr. Kamal Kishore (reserved candidate)
• Dr. Sanjeev Gupta HoD Orthopedic (OM) to be replaced by Dr. Abdul Ghani (reserved candidate)
• Dr. Ratnakar Sharma HoD Surgery (OM) to be replaced by Dr. Sanjay Kumar Bhasin (reserved candidate)
• Dr. Seema Gupta HoD Pharmacology (OM) to be replaced by Dr. Shabnam Chowdhary (reserved candidate)

The order will adversely impact various departments of Government Medical Colleges and Dental Colleges of Jammu and Kashmir. The premier GMCs of the twin capital cities will be the worst hit.
The medical fraternity of GMC Jammu and Srinagar have expressed deep concern, displeasure and resentment over this controversial order, saying unequivocally that this is against the National Medical Commission Teacher Eligibility Qualification Rules and Regulations, regulating medical education in the country.
On November 18, 2021, the NMC issued a draft TEQ for country wide comments, wherein they proposed rotatory headship for three years amongst the senior most professors. However, the move evoked countrywide resentment and as a consequence the NMC had shelved the proposal.
The medical teachers said that such an arbitrary order is against the civil services regulation classification of the officer rule (1) A, wherein only senior most faculty can only head the department.
The norms of the NMC in vogue recommend senior most professors to head the department.
They said that this order is going to create confusion, chaos and indiscipline as well as affect the patient care seriously, as the control of the department will be in multiple hands, resulting in lack of responsibility and accountability in the functioning of departments.
Further, the medical teachers said that, this order has been issued to facilitate and favour few of the faculty members who otherwise would have never got the opportunity to be the Heads of Department based on their seniority, both at GMC Jammu and Srinagar.
Agitated over the proposed move, the GMCs teaching faculty describes the order as an injustice for those who are not holding the posts of professors on account of non-availability of the incumbents despite their eligibility.
The proposed move is also not in consonance with the law of equivalence as it should have been uniform in application for all the departments, they added.
Medical teachers have taken serious exception to the proposed move and sought immediate rollback of the controversial order.