The State Government seems to be unable to break out of the legal tangles even as large scale vacancies in the posts of assistant professors have not only seriously affected academics but also patientcare in the three medical colleges.
The latest efforts to overcome the crisis by recruiting faculty on ad hoc basis has yet again come under judicial scrutiny with the Orissa Administrative Tribunal (OAT) disallowing any appointment to the posts without its leave. The OAT bench comprising Chairman Justice N Prusty and A Pattanayak has posted the next date of hearing after July 15.
The Tribunal’s directions came in response to a petition filed by medical officer, paediatric surgery at the SVPPG Institute of Paediatrics, Sishu Bhawan, here Dr AK Das challenging the advertisement for recruitment of assistant professors on ad hoc basis issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department on May 18.
The petitioner alleged that the upper age limit for the posts fixed at 45 years as on December 12, 2012 was in violation of the Tribunal’s earlier orders which had ruled for relaxation of the age limit to 45 years as on August 1, 2010.
The Government, in response, submitted that the present advertisement was for engagement on temporary basis only. The order of the Tribunal would be followed when regular recruitment will be made through the OPSC.
The bench ruled that applicants with age limit of 45 years as on August 1, 2010 should be eligible to apply for the posts. The selection process may continue but no appointment shall be made without leave of the court.
It may be mentioned here that more than 271 posts of assistant professors are lying vacant in the three medical colleges. While the Orissa High Court has passed repeated orders for filling up the vacant posts, the staff shortage has cast a shadow on the increase in MBBS seats.
The MCI has already rejected the Government’s proposal for increase of MBBS seats from 150 to 250 in the SCB MCH, Cuttack citing shortage of faculty as a major reason. The Government has approached the MCI again with undertaking for addressing the shortcomings immediately against permission for enhancement of the seats from the ensuing academic session.
The Department has complied with directions of Tribunal and accommodated applications on the basis of revised upper age limit. The selection process has been completed and final recruitment hinges on the decision of Tribunal, sources said.
