CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court has criticised the state govt's practice of appointing Assistant Professors on a contractual basis in govt medical colleges, terming it "unsustainable."
In a significant judgment delivered on November 22, Justice S K Panigrahi directed the state govt to expedite regular recruitment through the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) to fill over 180 vacant Assistant Professor positions across state medical colleges.
"These posts must be filled through regular appointments to ensure the integrity and stability of the academic and medical framework," Justice Panigrahi stated in the judgment, which was released in full on December 3.
The court's observation came while dismissing a petition filed by Dr Rakesh Kumar Ludam, a Medical Officer of the Odisha Medical and Health Service (OMHS) cadre. Dr Ludam was serving as Assistant Professor in the Anaesthesiology Department at MKCG Medical College, Berhampur, on a contractual basis from January 31, 2020, to January 30, 2024.
Currently, the state fills these teaching positions through contractual engagement or deputation of OMHS cadre medical officers for four years as an interim measure to meet National Medical Council (NMC) requirements.
Advocate Avijit Mishra, representing Dr Ludam, argued that one contractual employee cannot be replaced by another. However, the court noted that this principle doesn't apply in this case as Dr Ludam was being repatriated to his parent cadre upon completion of his deputation period.
The judgment aims to address what the court termed as "the prevailing culture of complacency and ad-hoc arrangements in public service" in the state's medical education sector.
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