Punjab: Medical, Dental college faculty demand Vice-Chairman Dr Talwar's removal

Patiala: The removal of Dr KK Talwar, Vice-Chairman of the high-powered planning and monitoring committee formed by the state government for the up gradation and overhauling of government medical and dental colleges in the state has been demanded. The seekers of this removal happens to be the faculty of the medical and dental colleges under the Punjab Government.

According to the Punjab State Medical and Dental Teachers' Association President, Dr HS Sohal, and General Secretary Dr DS Bhullar, the state government had itself submitted that the government medical and dental colleges had been allowed to fall below justifiable levels by the previous state government when Dr Talwar was health and medical education adviser to ex-Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. They were of the opinion that there was no point in getting him to hold the medical and policy reins all over again.

"Due to policies of Dr Talwar, autocratic style of functioning and his unwanted interference in the departmental functioning, the previous government failed to fill even the entry-level posts of assistant professor in medical and dental colleges, leading to an acute shortage of junior faculty as pointed out by the Medical Council of India during its inspections," alleged Dr Sohal.

According to Dr. Bhullar, the newly created posts had been kept vacant for over three years and were now being put forward for recruitment under the new education rules notified in 2016. These in actuality were to be filled under the old departmental rules. The Punjab and Haryana High Court in its interim order has directed the state government to fill the vacant posts in accordance with the old rules. The court further expressed regret over the fact that faculty promotions had been delayed and PCMS doctors eligible for medical education cadre were denied promotion perks, reports the Tribune.