Age Eligibility for GMCH Sector 32 Principal increased

Chandigarh: The eligibility age for the post of Director /Principal at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH sector 32) has been increased from 56 to 59 years to accommodate senior faculty at the college.

The decision was taken at a meeting between the chairperson, Recruitment Rules Recommendation, Dr Sudhir Garg and UPSC officials in New Delhi.

According to sources, the eligibility case was taken up at the meeting and 59 years decided as the upper age limit. "It will take some process as it has to be taken forward. But, as it has been accepted at the undersecretary level in the UPSC, the age will be approved at the higher level too," a UT health department official told Times of India.

With the eligibility issue sorted the selection process for the new director principal at the GMCH Sector 32 will soon be initiated.

3 months ago, the UPSC had conveyed to the UT health department to either reduce the tenure of the post of the director principal to 3 years if the maximum age for the eligibility was to be 59 years; or make the tenure span 5 years, if the maximum age for the eligibility was to be 57 years.

However, with information that eligibility has to be 59 years, the post has now opened up to 8 senior doctors from the GMCH Sector 32. With Dr Atul Sachdeva completed his tenure as the Director /Principal on April 23, Dr AK Janmeja took over additional charge as the Director Principal. As he retires in December, the recruitment rules revision will soon be undertaken and the post advertised.

The decision to redraft the rules was taken by the UT administration when many senior faculty members at GMCH Sector 32 requested for the same in January.

Earlier, Senior doctors had also held a meeting with the Secretary, Health, requesting a change in the upper age as the retirement age has been enhanced to 62 years.

The new Director/ Principal appointment is crucial for the college in the face of the apex regulator denying it approval for its 23 postgraduate seats, which were added in 2014.The Council's main objection being the officiating Principal, Dr Janmeja holding two more additional charges, reports TOI.

The medical college is believed to have submitted a compliance already.