Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, June 1: While the three-tier faculty system is in place at all newly established Medical Colleges across Jammu and Kashmir, the Government has failed to implement its second phase at the Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) in Srinagar and Jammu.
As per details, under the first phase of the implementation, the posts of Lecturers were upgraded to the level of Assistant Professor. However, the next phase aimed at upgrading posts and enabling recruitment, has been facing delays.
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“All the necessary groundwork has been completed by the department, but the process is now stuck at the second phase. This final step is crucial to completing the structure and ensuring proper career progression,” said a doctor from GMC Srinagar.
The objective of implementing the three-tier system has been to establish a balanced hierarchy-with more positions at the lower level and fewer at the top-to support faculty career growth, enhance patient care, and increase the intake of undergraduate and postgraduate students.
While the new Medical Colleges already follow this structure, and the authorities have implemented it in entirety in the Dental Colleges of both Srinagar and Jammu, the older Medical Colleges remain excluded.
The structure was approved by the Administrative Council in June 2024, later cleared by the Cabinet in 2025 and implemented in Dental Colleges in January 2025.
Doctors from GMC stated that a comprehensive rollout of the three-tier faculty system would reduce stagnation by up to 45 percent and also create opportunities for fresh recruitment at different levels.
“The current system has led to brain drain. There was hope that the three-tier faculty structure-already in place in most parts of the country-would address these issues and establish a balanced hierarchy,” said doctors.
According to Government Order No. 395-JK(HME) of 2024, dated 24-06-2024, sanction was accorded for the upgradation of 287 Lecturer posts to Assistant Professor (Level-11). However, this also involved the reduction of 136 Lecturer posts.
This adjustment, according to doctors, was part of the first phase of implementing the three-tier structure, aimed at improving faculty dynamics and professional growth.
They noted that despite the upgradation of Lecturer posts, the number of positions at the levels of Associate Professor and Professor has remained static and created “bottlenecks” in career progression and undermined the broader objective of reducing faculty stagnation.
“The core goals of the new structure can only be achieved through its full implementation. A well-balanced faculty hierarchy with equitable growth opportunities across all levels is essential to meet the increasing demands of patient care and medical education,” the doctors said.
The aggrieved faculty members emphasized that only by upgrading and approving the posts of Associate Professors and Professors can the institution meet national standards in medical education and healthcare delivery.
As for the latest status of the second phase, Excelsior has been informed that the matter is currently pending with the Finance Department, which has raised concerns about the financial implications related to the implementation of phase two.
Meanwhile, Minister for Health & Medical Education Department, Sakeena Itoo said that the structure was implemented in entirety and that there were no financial implications involved.
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