PGIMER general body meeting expected to be action packed

Chandigarh: The Central Adminstration Tribunal has told the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMER) to maintain status quo on the issue of promotion of doctors in the Department of Radiotherapy. The orders have been passed based on an application filed by Dr. Narendra Kumar, who is working as Additional Professor, Department of Radiotherapy, PGIMER. The next date for hearing is 20^th January,2016.

The orders passed were based on Dr. Narendra Kumar’ s application. Mr. Kumar is working as an additional professor in the radiotherapy department, of the institute. Kumar had challenged Dr. Bhavna Rai being eligible for promotion from the post of Assistant. professor to professor in the department of radiotherapy. Kumar meanwhile, had joined as assistant professor in the department and was promoted to associate professor in July 2011. He was then promoted to the position of additional professor in 2014. Whereas in Rai’s case, she was appointed as assistant professor on an ad hoc basis in September 2009. She received a six month extension and it was specifically provided that the term would end either at the expiry of six months or at the time of regular appointment. However, In October 2015, Rai was appointed as assistant professor in the department on a regular basis. Prior to this, her appointment had been extended 12 times on an ad hoc basis.

Furthermore, two more posts were advertised and interviews held in 2016. Rai who appeared for the interview was selected and appointed to the post of professor after being deemed eligible. Dr Awadesh Kumar Pandy, Professor and Head of the Radiotherapy Department in Medical College, Sector 32, Chandigarh and Dr Manoj Kumar Gupta, Professor in the Radiotherapy Department in Indira Gandhi College Shimla, the other two applicants besides Rai were rejected.

Kumar apposed Rai’s appointments and made a representation saying that she was not eligible for the post as she had not served as Associate Professor or Additional Professor and as reported by him to the Indian Express.

Meanwhile The Governing Body (PGIMER) meeting earlier scheduled for the 10^th of January, is now to be held on Wednesday, the 11^th of January,2016. The agenda listed for the meeting as told by the PGIMER to Chandigarh Newsline includes:

• the approval of the recently held faculty interviews, for the final approval by the governing body


• the selection of the former PGI Director Prof Yogesh Chawla’s daughter Dr Parul Chawla and son-in-law Dr Ankur Gupta as faculty members of the PGIMER will come up


• plagiarism issue of some faculty members is likely to come up during the governing body meet


• the ongoing controversy of selecting the new PGI Director.

It is believed that earlier interviews of Dr. Chawla’s daughter and son in law had taken place in AIIMS last year and the results were sent to the PGI. The list will now require the approval seal of the governing body. It is believed earlier the governing body had withheld the appointment of the two after a controversy broke out over the Director, Yogesh Chawla, not informing the Union Health ministry about his daughter and son-in-law appearing for the interview of faculty at PGI. Both of the doctors, who are working in ad hoc posts at PGI presently, had appeared in the interview for the post of PGI faculty.