Archive for category: News

Srinagar: Uphelding the government order to remove a doctor from the post of HOD, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Jammu has refused to grant interim relief to the doctor as the government have assigned the charge of HoD to the next senior-most faculty member to ensure a fair investigation.

The doctor in this case approached the tribunal after an Associate Professor, who is junior to the applicant, had been designated as the Head of Department, Department of Orthodontics by the government after removing him from the position following an internal enquiry based on complaints against him. 

The representative for the petitioner argued that an investigation was started based on complaints filed by the staff/doctor against the Head of Department/Applicant. These complaints were forwarded to the Committee, which further examined them and decided to proceed with a full investigation. The committee recommended the removal of the applicant from the position of Head of Department.  

Also read- Appointment Of PGI Dean: CAT Deferred Hearing On Plea Filed By Dr Surjit Singh

The applicant claims that individuals with ulterior motives have fabricated these complaints against him to oust him from the role of Head of Department.

The petitioner’s representative also pointed out that according to Government Order No. 527-JK(HME) of 2023, dated 22.06.2023, the process for appointing the Head of Department in Government Medical Colleges and Government Dental Colleges of Jammu and Kashmir is as follows: i. In departments with one professor, the professor remains the Head of the Department. ii. In departments with multiple professors, the position of Head of Department rotates among the professors every two years based on seniority.

However, the advocates for the respondents stated that in departments with multiple professors, rotation of the Head of Department position is followed but in departments with only one professor, the most senior professor assumes the role of Head of Department. In the absence of a professor, the most senior individual will act as the Head of Department, whether they are an Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, or Lecturer.

In this case, the applicant is the sole professor in the department, yet an investigation has been initiated against him. On April 1, 2024, the Government sent a message to the Principal of Indira Gandhi Government Dental College, Jammu, to designate the next senior-most faculty member in the discipline of Orthodontics as Head of the Department or himself assume the charge of HoD Orthodontics, till further orders.

“In compliance with this order, the Principal has issued a communication dated 02.04.2024, by which the respondent no. 3 herein, has been designated as Head of Department, for fair enquiry that should not be influenced and no record can be tampered so the action taken by the Respondent Department by removing the applicant from the post of HoD and appointing the senior-most faculty as a new HoD is not wrong,” said the court quoted in Cross Town News. 

Further, the court adds “So, the balance of convenience is not in favour of the applicant. Hence, there is no infirmity in the communication dated 01.04.2024(Annexure-A1) and communication dated 02.04.2024. The respondents have followed the Principle of Natural Justice and to avoid any foul play the charge of HoD is assigned to the next senior-most faculty member till the enquiry is completed. Hence, I am not inclined to grant any interim at this stage.”

The matter is scheduled for further hearing on 29.05.2024, with a notice issued to the respondents to file a reply within four weeks.

Also read- PGI’s Dean Appointment: CAT Stays Health Ministry Order Of Joining Of Dr Surjit Singh

New Delhi: Pointing out that the current declaration forms are difficult and time-consuming to fill, the doctors have urged the National Medical Commission (NMC) to reconsider the need for these extensive forms required to be filled by residents and faculty during NMC inspections. 

As per the current rules, at the time of inspection by the Apex Medical Regulator, all the faculties and resident doctors are required to submit a declaration form for the purpose of verification.

Writing to NMC, the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) recently pointed out that the current declaration form used for verification spans a staggering nine pages and demands detailed information “much of which remains unchanged and need not be resubmitted with each inspection”. Hence, the doctors have asked the NMC to consider accepting smaller declaration forms during inspections for established and verified medical professionals.

“While we acknowledge the necessity of documenting existing manpower within institute. We find much of the information requested to be unnecessary repetition. needlessly burdening both the professionals and administrative staff,” the association said.

FORDA highlighted that the declaration form requires attachments of essential documents such as qualification degrees, Aadhar, and PAN cards. “In an era of digitalization championed by our Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, this practice stands in stark contrast to the ideals of a digital India,” the association mentioned in the letter.

Also Read: No annual declaration, No MBBS Permission: NMC directs medical colleges to fill in details on online portal

Referring to the prevalent system of Aadhar-based biometric registration at various levels throughout the career of a professional, FORDA opined that the “repeated submission of this data is not only redundant but also poses a significant risk to the privacy of professionals.”

“Regrettably, many institutes lack robust systems to safeguard such sensitive information, leaving professionals vulnerable to privacy breaches in the event of a data leak. Furthermore, the aftermath of each inspection often entails the submission of multiple online Google forms and Excel sheets, further exacerbating the already burdened plight of residents and its assessors. This unnecessary exercise not only undermines efficiency but also detracts from the core focus of medical education and practice,” it further mentioned in the letter addressed to the NMC Chairman.

Considering this, the association has urged the top medical regulator to reconsider its current approach and explore the possibility of adopting smaller declaration forms for established and verified professionals. FORDA has urged the Commission to digitalise the process, which would ultimately reduce the enormous paperwork. “By doing so, the process can be streamlined, alleviating the administrative burden on both parties involved,” it added.

Pointing out that in certain institutes this data submission occurs biannually, underscoring the urgent need for a more thoughtful and modified approach, the association has urged NMC to take proactive steps to address these issues and ensure a smoother, more efficient process for all stakeholders involved.

Commenting on the matter, the President of FORDA, Dr. Aviral Mathur said, “Everytime an inspection happens, ALL the faculty and resident workforce have to RE-DEPOSIT their important details in paperwork. When a professional has once been verified, cannot the institution just issue a smaller declaration for the same, since some details never change. This will save a lot of paperwork and also avoid potential breach of vital identification data.”

“Nowhere else are such verifications done. In an era of digitalisation, this is a rudimentary practice which merits careful rethinking,” it further added.

Also Read: Soon Medical College Inspections Will Go Online

Through a public notice, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced the reopening of the registration window for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for (Undergraduate) courses- NEET UG 2024.