PATNA: Despite the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) clearing names of around three dozen doctors for promotion to the rank of professor and associate professor in the six government medical colleges of the state in December 2010, these doctors are still awaiting their promotion.
Promotions have got delayed as the issue is being referred to the state cabinet for its final approval. As a result, faculty shortage in the medical colleges continues. On an average, the six medical colleges are functioning with 30-40% faculty deficiency.
The decision of the December 23, 2010, meet of the DPC is hanging balance as under RTI Act, as per the Rules of Executive Business, Bihar, questions were raised about the transparency and impartiality of the selection method followed by the DPC in reaching a consensus on the names of the candidates to be promoted against the vacant posts of professors and associate professors.
The state health department had referred the matter to the cabinet secretariat for its opinion which suggested placing the matter before the cabinet for its approval before making any appointments.
Says health secretary Sanjay Kumar, “Earlier, promotions to the posts concerned were made once the DPC cleared the names, which were later okayed by the minister concerned and the chief minister himself. However, this time, some people raised objections over the procedure, due to which the health department thought it fit to refer the matter to the cabinet secretariat for its suggestion on the matter.”
Asked whether getting cabinet approval does not delay the process as nearly all medical colleges are facing faculty crunch, Kumar said the cabinet secretariat was competent enough to give direction on the issue.