JIPMER Director's Tenure Extended, Faculty Association to Protest against Decision

Puducherry: Protesting against the extension of the tenure of the JIPMER Director, the Faculty Association of the institute has decided to raise the matter to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and the Union Health Ministry.

The JIPMER Faculty Association (JFA) has demanded the annulment of the director, who has been given a one-year tenure extension. The association alleged that during the five-year term of the current director, there was inefficient administration and misguided leadership. This allegedly led to numerous problems for the employees and the public. 

The association has pointed out that the current director completed his five-year tenure by the end of December 2023. Even though the interview for the new Director was held long time ago, the selection process could not be concluded.

It has been alleged by the association that instead of selecting the senior-most professor in the institute as the interim Director, the tenure of the incumbent was extended for one year. This was done while overlooking the availability of the senior faculty members capable and efficient to take over the responsibility.

In its recent meeting, the JFA has resolved to write to the PMO and the Union Health Ministry seeking termination of the tenure extension. They have also decided to launch protests until an eligible faculty member gets appointed as an interim Director until a new Director takes charge.

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Commenting on the matter, the president of the JFA, R. Raveendran informed The Hindu that the protest activities shall include wearing black badges at the workplace and holding a dharna outside the administration block in a peaceful manner without affecting the functioning of the hospital or patient care. Besides, they can also protest by the way of commencing non-cooperation with the orders of the Director.

The association informed the Daily that it had informed the president and the governing body of the institute about the alleged dictatorial functioning and the misguided leadership of the incumbent director. Raising the issue, the representatives of the Puducherry Government had also met with the Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and sought the removal of the Director for the decisions that caused hardships to the public.

JFA has condemned the unilateral initiation of a collegium system. It has also demanded the deferment of the decision and proper consultation with the stakeholders before implementing the same.

Various charges have been raised by the association which allegedly affected the institute over the past few years. These charges included improperly utilizing the budget money, a 50% reduction in the intramural funding for research over the years and reduced number of research projects that adversely affected the future NIRF rankings of the institute.

The association has demanded the removal of age limit of 55 years for the posts of Deans and Medical Superintendent, and introduction of the number of years of experience as an eligibility criterion.  It has been opined by the association that any medical faculty having the designation of professor and having a continuous, regular service experience at the institute for more than 15 years should be considered.

Further, the association also urged the authorities to frame regulations for eligibility and selection of Associate Deans (Research/Academic) and putting a limit to the tenure to three years.

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