PGIMER Governing body refuses to downgrade post of professors : Report

Chandigarh: The proposal of a 'blanket downgrading' of the posts of professors at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) has been put down by the governing body of the institute, according to recent media reports.

This decision was revealed in the minutes of the meeting held on November 9 and chaired by Union Health Minister and PGI, President, JP Nadda.

According to the agenda minutes on “downgrading the post of the professor to associate/assistant professor in different specialties/departments”, the governing body perused the decision of the standing academic committee, dated May 29, 2017, and declined blanket downgrading of the post of professor.

“The governing body was apprised of the faculty pyramid and difficulty in filling up the remaining posts. After detailed deliberations, the governing body agreed in principle to temporary down gradation of the posts for a fixed period of up to three years on a case-to-case basis and desired that the matter may be taken to the HR committee for consideration and approval,” read the minutes.

The body has also approved the request of grant of ex-India (extraordinary) leave for two years from January 2018 or from the relieving date to Professor T D Yadav, Department of General Surgery, PGI. The Professor is to join as Consultant General, Laparoscopic Surgery, Asgar Ali Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. A one-year ex-India leave of Professor S K Mattoo, Department of Psychiatry, to join as Consultant Psychiatrist in the UK, has also been by the governing body of the PGIMER.

A complaint against Professor Rakesh Sehgal, Head of the Department of Medical Parasitology, PGI Chandigarh for plagiarism” has been withdrawn according to the minute noting.

Workers participation in management functions at PGI, had the minutes stating, “It was felt that the JCM as per the guideline of the Government of India for constructive dialogue between the representatives of the staff and the management for peaceful regulation of all disputes between the employer and employees to maintain harmonious relations at the institute is a competent and adequate mechanism. It was desired that meetings of the high-powered committee be convened on a regular basis, ” as reported by The Indian Express.

Another item, which was presented as a table agenda during the meeting, regarding the creation of additional posts for up gradation of Drug De-addiction and Treatment Centre of PGIMER, Chandigarh, for bringing it at par with the center of excellence in addition psychiatry in India, was withdrawn, the minutes stated.