Govt to recruit faculty, may still lose 100 MBBS seats

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, April 17

After facing flak from various quarters over the likely loss of 100 MBBS seats in the coming session due to faculty shortage in two government colleges, the Punjab government has initiated the process to recruit professors.

However, the government may still not be able to save the seats. The issue of shortage of staff was pointed out by the Medical Council of India (MCI), in the recent college assessment report of GMC, Patiala and Amritsar.

The Director of Research and Medical Education (DRME) has announced tentative dates for interviews to fill 153 posts of professor, associate professor and assistant professor in the superspecialty category. The interviews will be held on April 30 and May 5 for professors and broader specialist professors, respectively.

However, since the model code of conduct is in place, the initiation of recruitment has already raised many eyebrows. Sources said under the garb of contingency measure, the government wanted to recruit its own people. They said doctors had already reported the issue to the Election Commission of India (ECI), fearing favoritism in the recruitment.

Punjab Democratic Alliance (PDA) leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira, said, “If the government hasn’t taken the permission to conduct interviews, then it is a violation of the model code of conduct. The ECI should immediately stop the process. The government is luring voters by giving employment.”

Meanwhile, Additional Chief Secretary (Health), Satish Chandra, said, “The State Election Commission has granted us the permission to hold interviews. We will fill vacant posts in the said colleges only.”

Chief Electoral Officer Dr S Karuna Raju could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.