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| No DPC held since two decades, medicos from other wings make it to top positions as well | | Health department goes to dogs as juniors hold important positions at cost of seniors | | Jehangir Rashid
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Sept 26: It may sound absurd and surprising but it is true. No departmental promotion committee (DPC) meeting in the health department has taken place over the past two decades. As a result there is chaos and anarchy in the department with juniors being given important positions.
Sources told Early Times that resentment is brewing among the senior doctors of the health department since them despite having the requisite experience are being denied important positions like Director Health Services Kashmir and Deputy Directors of the various wings of the department.
"It is an irony that DPC has not met over the past 20 years and as such seniority of the doctors has not been determined. As on date there is just inter-cadre seniority list in the department. This has resulted into a situation by virtue of which important positions like Deputy Directors and Chief Medical Officers are held by junior doctors," said sources.
Sources said that a senior doctor holding the post of Deputy Director or equivalent for the past 15 years is not being considered for the post of Director Health Services, Kashmir. This senior doctor is being sidelined and there are chances that some 'para-trooper' may drop in and become Director Health Services Kashmir.
"What is the fun of having experience when it does not count at the end of the day? There are doctors who are willing to take over important administrative positions but they are not allowed to do so since no DPC meeting has taken place over the past two decades. It is a peculiar position where is a doctor is willing to discharge important assignment but the department does not allow him to do so," said sources.
Sources said that if the DPC meeting takes place then the seniority would be set out and senior doctors would make it to the higher positions. They said the system is full of flaws and same can be corrected at this point of time since no political considerations are involved whatsoever.
"There are bright chances that the things can be put in right perspective during the Governor's Rule. If it does not happen this time around then the system would continue to rot. It is quite strange that doctors falling below in the seniority list have got confirmation on the higher posts and also received higher grades," said sources.
Sources while quoting an example said that a Deputy Director at Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir has made it to the position despite the fact that the medico is yet to be confirmed as Chief Medical Officer. They said that the government has over the years brought doctors from wings like Health & Medical Education and Directorate of Health & Family Welfare and appointed them as Director Health Services Kashmir.
"Five posts of Directors have to be filled with three of the posts to be filled on cadre basis with the remaining two being filled from the non-cadre strength of doctors. No criterion is being followed whatsoever in the appointment of Directors. Rules are being violated with impunity and the worst part is that accountability has gone for a toss," said sources
Sources said that an ophthalmologist has already been made Director Health & Family Welfare and there are chances that yet another ophthalmologist may make it big by becoming Director Health Services Kashmir. If this is the case then where would senior doctors working under the aegis of Directorate of Health Services Kashmir or Directorate of Health Services Jammu would go while seeking appointment on top notch position like Director.
"It is due to this faulty system that a doctor who enters the department as an Assistant Surgeon retires as a Medical Officer and is not able to get the due promotion. At the same time there are doctors who despite having a gap in the service period have been able to maintain seniority and enjoying all the benefits," said sources.
Sources said that it is due to this faulty system that important positions like Deputy Director (Dentistry), Medical Superintendent, Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Hospital (JLNM) Rainawari and State Tuberculosis Officer are vacant for a long period of time now. They said the same has affected the functioning of the working of the department. |
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