Alleged Appointment Irregularities! Medical Education Dept seeks guidance from Dental College Principal in probe against herself

Indore: Concerns over fairness in a probe have surfaced from Indore Government Dental College. In a bizarre case, the Department of Public Health and Medical Education sought guidance in the investigation against Dr Gupta from the principal of the Dental College, which is Dr Gupta herself.

The investigation is ongoing over the allegations raised against her regarding the irregularities in her appointment and roster management, FPJ has reported.

In a letter dated January 30, the Deputy Director (legal) raised serious concerns about the fairness of the probe while addressing the procedural issues in the inquiry against Dr. Gupta, who is the head of the prosthodontics department as well as the principal of the dental college.

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Free Press Journal has reported that the inquiry against Dr Gupta was initiated after an associate professor in the same department, Dr. Subhash Sonkesariya filed a complaint, which was acknowledged on January 2, 2025.

Filing the complaint, Dr. Sonekesariyai stated that Dr. Gupta was appointed as a resident in dentistry at the Government Dental College, Indore on April 2, 1990, although she lacked the required MDS qualification. 

Thereafter, in 1998, Dr. Gupta was appointed as a lecturer in conservative dentistry on the condition that she complete her MDS within five years. However, she obtained the degree in 2005 and violated the terms of her appointment. Despite this, no action was taken against her due to administrative negligence, alleged the complainant.

Apart from this, it was also alleged that instead of completing her MDS in conservative dentistry, as required, Dr. Gupta obtained the MDS degree in prosthodontics and was later transferred to the prosthodontics department in an unauthorized move under government regulations. The complaint alleged that such actions were arbitrary and they violated the official rules.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported about the dispute over the position of principal at the Government Dental College. The dispute arose after the state government issued an order on January 8 appointing Dr Alka Gupta as the new principal. Dr Sandhya Jain, who had been working as the principal, was replaced by Dr Gupta, a professor in the Department of Prosthodontics at the Government College of Dentistry in Indore.

However, confusion emerged regarding the recruitment when Dr Jain challenged the government order in the high court, arguing that she had not officially handed over the charge. Dr. Gupta assumed the position on January 9, citing the state directive. 

The situation became more contentious when the court ordered a status quo on January 10, but both doctors continued to assert their claims to the role. Dr. Jain and Dr. Gupta had been functioning as principals from separate rooms, creating operational disruptions. Dr. Jain maintained that she remains the rightful principal, as she never relinquished her duties. On the other hand, Dr. Gupta asserts that her appointment followed proper procedures.

Later, the High Court ruled in favour of Dr. Alka Gupta emphasizing that retaining Dr. Jain in the role would hinder equitable governance due to an ongoing investigation involving her spouse, former principal Dr. Deshraj Jain.

Also Read: HC Resolves Principal Dispute at Govt Dental College Indore, Dr Alka Gupta Assumes Charge