Chandigarh, April 9: The Punjab Government today initiated a number of steps to fill the vacant posts of faculty at all levels in all government run Medical & Dental Colleges of the state to check the chronic problem of shortage of teaching staff.Disclosing this here today after reviewing the situation in two marathon meetings held here last night and today also, Mr.Tikshan Sud, Medical Education & Research Minister said that the State Government has sent requisition of 104 posts of faculty of various levels to Punjab Public Service Commission, Patiala under direct quota. He said that immediately on taking the reins of this department the government had decided to raise the retirement age of teaching faculty from 58 to 60 years. Focusing in retention of present faculty, Mr. Sud said that the Departmental Promotion Committee meeting has taken place; promoting 28 persons in one go, checking the long standing stagnation and frustration in the faculty. He informed that the 8 more promotion orders are in the offing and meeting of 3rd Departmental Promotion Committee would be held during this month to promote all the 21 deserving faculty members. The Minister said that he had also invited all retired faculty to join State Govt. Medical Institutions. Besides it, PPSC has recommended the name of other one professor and had advertised 10 posts to be filled for Dental Demonstrators,
Secretary, Medical Education & Research Mr. Jagjit Puri informed in the meeting that to fulfil the assurance of Minister in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha in the last Budget Session, the department has taken novel steps to rationalise the strength of faculty in all institutions so that students of any institution were not neglected. He said that as per rationalization policy approved by Minister, all faculty members who have a longer stay would be shifted to other institutions against vacancies. The department has invited applications from Medical Officers for their appointment has Senior Lecturers. He said that process has been initiated and after due scrutiny medical officers would be appointed as senior lecturers in Medical Colleges purely as per seniority-cum-merit basis.
Mr. Puri said in no case seniority-cum-merit would be disturbed while making promotions. He said that a stern warning has been issued that any case of nepotism, favouritism and negligence in rationalization of staff/ promotions will be seriously viewed and any negligent officer/official would not be spared.