Rajindra College profs up in arms over ‘violation’ of re-employment clause

Tribune News Service

Advertisement

Patiala, May 31 

Professors of the Government Rajindra Medical College and Hospital are up in arms against the Medical Education Department. 

They are protesting “aberration” in the implementation of the clause meant for the re-employment of medical teachers. 

More than 50 professors have signed an application written to the Additional Chief Secretary Research and Medical Education, Punjab, in this regard.

The protesting professors also met Health and Family Welfare Minister Brahm Mohindra at Government Rajindra Medical College and Hospital. Brahm Mohindra had come to the college to attend a high-level meeting of Medical colleges’ principals. Other senior state health officials were present in the meeting. 

The professors said, “Instead of recruiting new faculty, 24 teachers had been re-employed in past six months. Many of them have been even appointed as the head of the departments, which clearly violates the clause for re-employment of medical teachers. As they are not on permanent roll, therefore, they will not be held responsible if anything goes wrong.”

Harshinder Kaur, a paediatrics professor, said, “This is the worst scenario in college as the move demoralises the permanent staff members who are working hard. If it continues without any check, Rajindra College will facing a shortage of teachers after some time.”

Darshanjeet Singh, a surgery professor, said, “As per the clause, it is clearly mentioned that these faculty members are re-employed purely for the teaching and research purpose only, but appointing them as the head of the departments kills the basic spirit of its provision.”

The protestors also alleged that these re-employed staff neither wrote Annual Confidential Report (ACR) nor they were entitled to review the ACR of other teachers working under them. But they were still enjoying the administrative powers, the professors added. 

They said no assistant professor was hired since 15 May, 2015 and it was the entry-level post for the teaching faculty in medical education.