SRINAGAR: As several posts in Government Medical Colleges (GMCs), particularly in new Medical Colleges of Jammu and Kashmir are lying vacant despite advertising the same several times in last 2-3 years, the UT Government has excluded such posts from the operation of the J&K Civil Services Decentralization and Recruitment Act 2010, thus paving way for the appointment of non-domicile candidates on these Gazetted-level teaching posts on academic arrangement basis, Daily Excelsior reported.
Daily Excelsior quoting official sources told that since their establishment, the five new Medical Colleges of J&K in Kathua, Doda, Rajouri, Anantnag and Baramulla have been reeling under shortage of Gazetted-level teaching/faculty posts, which is not only affecting teaching-learning process in these institutions but the threat of de-recognition is also looming large over these Medical Colleges.
Sources further disclosed that in some new Medical Colleges, even a single faculty post is not filled in Basic Sciences i.e. Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology and Biochemistry Departments whereas in some colleges, either some posts have been filled on academic arrangement basis or by deputing doctors from Health Department.
They said “if we take example of GMC Doda, against 23 sanctioned posts of Professors, only 6 are in place while against 32 sanctioned posts of Associate Professors, just one is in place. Similarly against 49 sanctioned posts of Assistant Professors, only 37 are in place and only 35 Senior Residents/Demonstrators are in place against sanctioned strength of 78”.
Likewise, they said, in GMC Rajouri, more than 40 faculty posts including 24 posts of Professors, 16 of Assistant Professors and 10 of Associate Professors are lying vacant. What to say of new Medical Colleges, even in GMC Jammu more than 100 faculty posts are lying vacant while more than 50 faculty posts are lying vacant in Super Speciality Hospital, Jammu.
Sources said to fill these vacant faculty posts on academic arrangement basis (till these posts are filled through PSC), Health & Medical Education Department J&K last year came up with J&K Medical and Dental Education (Appointment on Academic Arrangement Basis) Rules, 2020 but most of the posts remained vacant, particularly in new Medical Colleges as candidates from Jammu were reluctant to go and join duties in Kathua, Doda and Rajouri.
They said concerned over this peculiar situation, Health & Medical Education Department recently submitted a proposal to the Government to amend J&K Civil Services Decentralization and Recruitment Act, 2010 and allow the Department to fill these faculty posts by appointing non-domicile candidates on academic arrangement basis.
Sources said after going through the proposal, the Lt Governor of J&K in exercise of the powers conferred under clause (ii) of proviso to Section 3 of the J&K Civil Services Decentralization and Recruitment Act 2010 (Act No. XVI of 2010), excluded from the operation of the Act such categories of Gazetted level teaching/faculty posts as may be identified by the H&ME Department from time to time, for appointment on academic arrangement basis under the provisions of J&K Medical and Dental Education (Appointment on Academic Arrangement Basis) Rules, 2020 in all the Government Medical Colleges of J&K.
“These posts have been excluded from the operation of the Act subject to the condition that they have been advertised at least once and remain unfilled,” said a notification issued few days back by General Administration Department. It further added that the exemption of these posts from the Act shall be valid till March 31, 2022.
Pertinently, as per the J&K Civil Services Decentralization and Recruitment Act 2010, only permanent residents of J&K can be appointed on district, division or State level posts but with issuance of this notification, now the Government has paved way for appointment (on academic arrangement basis) of non-domicile candidates on the Gazetted-level teaching posts in Government Medical Colleges of the UT.
