Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, July 25: Several Assistant Professors at the new Medical Colleges in Jammu and Kashmir are facing career stagnation due to the lateral entry appointments of Associate Professors and Professors from the Health and Medical Education Department, which allegedly bypassed standard recruitment procedures.
Assistant Professors from the Government Medical Colleges in Anantnag, Baramulla, Kathua and Rajouri voiced concerns that the appointment of consultants from the Health Department as Associate Professors within certain departments has halted promotions of many existing faculty members and blocked the recruitment of new staff.
“In departments where these consultants were appointed as Associate Professors, there has been no progression for promotions as their appointments have not been ratified. Meanwhile, in other departments without lateral entries, our batch mates have been promoted to Associate Professors and new Assistant Professors have been hired,” said one Assistant Professor, who wished not to be named.
High Court had previously ordered the Medical Education Department to resolve the issue with the National Medical Commission (NMC) by either integrating the lateral entry faculty members into the departments or returning them to the Health Department within a month. However, the department has not yet acted on this directive, leaving the situation unresolved. “Additionally, the Public Service Commission (PSC) has not ratified these appointments, increasing the uncertainty about their positions,” a faculty member said.
In 2017, the government advertised various posts, including Assistant Professors, for the newly established Medical Colleges. However, crucial positions for Associate Professors and Professors were not advertised. “Appointments were made through lateral entry from the Medical and Health Education Department, in violation of recruitment rules and standards set by the NMC and Medical Council of India (MCI),” said an Assistant Professor.
Medical Council of India (MCI) regulations stipulate that an Associate Professor must have a postgraduate medical degree, extensive experience in a relevant specialty within a 300-bed hospital, and significant academic contributions, including original research publications. “The lateral entry appointments did not meet these criteria,” the Assistant Professor added.
The affected faculty members said attempts to resolve the issue have been slow. A directive from the Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor urged the Health and Medical Education Department to address the concerns, but actions have been limited.
“We urge for timely intervention to either repatriate those appointed through lateral entry to their original positions or ensure equitable career advancement for all Assistant Professors, “another Assistant Professor said.
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