Principals of govt medical colleges hold dual charge

Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 1

The doctors picked by Punjab Medical Education and Research Minister Anil Joshi for the posts of principal in the government medical colleges of Patiala and Amritsar are holding dual charge in violation of the rules.

According to the Punjab Medical Education (Group-A) Service Rules, 2016, the principal of a government medical college and the medical superintendent of a government medical college and hospital can’t hold the post of the head of the department.

“However, they (principals or medical superintendents) shall be allowed to teach and practice in the department and remain in charge of a unit,” the rules say.

Dr BS Bal, Principal, Government Medical College (GMC), Amritsar, yesterday took charge as the head of the department of medicine after the retirement of Dr Pritam Singh Sandhu.

Dr BL Bhardwaj, Principal of Government Medical College, Patiala, is already heading the department of medicine.

The Medical Superintendent (in charge of hospital) at GMC, Amritsar, Dr RS Sharma, is also holding the post of the head of the department of physiology. Earlier, he was appointed despite being 33rd on the seniority list.

When contacted, Husan Lal, Secretary, Medical Education and Research, said they would make all appointments soon as per the rules notified in March.

In an earlier report (May 6), The Tribune had highlighted that Joshi ignored the service rules to pick his favourites for top posts in the Medical Education Department.