‘Out of step with norms, discriminatory’
Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Sept 8: Non-gazetted staff of new Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) in J&K today slammed the Draft Subordinate Service Recruitment Rules as “discriminatory, arbitrary” and inconsistent with norms elsewhere.
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Nursing officers of GMC Anantnag said the draft rules “unfairly” mandate seven years of qualifying service for every promotion in the nursing hierarchy, compared to just three years in GMC Jammu, GMC Srinagar and SKIMS.
“This discriminatory provision unfairly penalizes a cadre that performs continuous, round-the-clock patient care duties. Such treatment is unjustified, demoralizing, and requires immediate rectification,” they said in a representation to the Department.
The officers said the draft also ignores earlier decisions under Government Order No. 556-JK(GAD) of 2021, which had fixed five years of service for promotion from Pay Level 4 to Pay Level 6.
They argued that the new conditions are “arbitrary” and “discriminatory.”
Other concerns raised by the nursing cadre include the merger of the CSSD Nursing unit with the General Nursing Department, which they say would eliminate promotion avenues for junior nurses.
They also opposed the downgrading of the post of Matron to Assistant Matron instead of creating more senior-level posts.
The cadre has demanded an increase in supervisory positions proportionate to the workload in associated hospitals-raising Matrons from one to four, Assistant Matrons from two to eight, and Nursing Supervisors from four to 12.
Nursing representatives also said the draft fails to standardize nomenclature as per Indian Nursing Council and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) guidelines.
Despite repeated representations, the change from “Staff Nurse” to “Nursing Officer” has not been implemented, they said.
On pay structure, the cadre noted a “glaring disparity” with the rest of the country.
“The entry-level salary of nurses in other States starts from Pay Level 7, but in J&K, even the highest pay for nurses does not cross Level 7 despite the same minimum qualification,” they said, urging the Government to revise pay scales in line with MoHFW guidelines.
The draft rules have also disappointed employees of the Photography Unit and Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS).
Representatives of the Photography Unit pointed out that no promotional avenues have been created, with the post of Senior Photographer missing from the hierarchy.
They added that the pay band of Junior Photographer is not aligned with GMC Srinagar, where it is set at Level 6.
“Overall, the draft has shattered the hopes of non-gazetted aspirants working in the new GMCs. It is neither in compliance with the rules of GMC Srinagar nor GMC Jammu and offers little to eagerly waiting stakeholders,” the representatives said.
Stakeholders across cadres-who have submitted their objection-have urged the Government to reconsider the draft, introduce “fair” promotional avenues, revise pay scales, and adopt “uniform” nomenclature and service conditions in line with national standards.
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