Search for AIIMS Director... Validity of search committee now under question

New Delhi: An expert panel of the Union Health Ministry has shortlisted three names for the post of the Director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, as the incumbent, Dr. Randeep Guleria, whose tenure was ending on March 24, has got three months extension.

However, the formation of the expert panel to select the new Director is being questioned. There is also a talk that the search-cum-selection committee has overlooked seniority in the short-listing process. 

Also Read:Three doctor shortlisted, in the final race for AIIMS Director Post, Details

"As per the AIIMS Act, the Institute Body is the only competent authority that constitutes the search-cum-selection committee. This IB (freshly notified) is meeting for the first time on March 29. Then this search-cum-selection committee is illegal and illegitimate," said a senior doctor, who did not want to be named.

As per the Health Ministry letter sent to the AIIMS, the Department of Personnel and Training has conveyed the approval of the composition of search-cum-selection committee which constitutes the Union Health Secretary as Chairman, and Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Delhi University Vice-Chancellor, and Principal Scientific Advisor to the government, as its members.

The Committee has short-listed three names - Dr. Rajesh Malhotra, the head of AIIMS trauma center and an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Nikhil Tandon, head of the department of endocrinology, and Dr. Pramod Garg, professor of gastroenterology, for the post of AIIMS Director.

However, there are questions over not even a single doctor figuring in the search and selection committee which is against the rules as the members are scientists, government officials, and an academician. The AIIMS Act says that the appointment to the post of Director shall be made by the Institute with the prior approval of the government.

Medical Dialogues team had recently published that Dr. Guleria was appointed as the director in 2017, at the time he was heading AIIMS' department of pulmonary medicine. However, with his tenure nearing completion in March, the process of selection of a new director for AIIMS has begun.

On November 25, AIIMS released a notification inviting applications from the citizens of India/Others as per Standard Rules for the post of Director of AIIMS.

Also Read:AIIMS New Delhi extends tenure of Director, Dr Randeep Guleria.