Ghost faculty in Ayurveda Colleges: NCISM orders suspension of 26 teachers in Karnataka
Doctor
Bengaluru: Taking action against ghost faculty members, the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM), under the Ministry of AYUSH, has directed the Registrar of the Karnataka Ayurvedic and Unani Practitioners Board (KYUPB) to suspend the registration of 26 medical teachers of two private Ayurveda medical colleges in the State.
These faculty members were only "on-paper teachers" or ghost faculty.
The list of those 26 medical teachers includes 13 teachers each from two private Ayurveda medical colleges in Chitradurga and Raichur districts.
In addition to taking action against them, the Commission has issued another directive to suspend the registration of another 'on-paper teacher' who, according to records, is employed at a private Ayurvedic Medical College in Gujarat despite being registered with KYUPB.
This comes after the NCISM inspected the Ayurveda Medical Colleges across Karnataka after receiving complaints regarding ghost faculty.
According to records, for the academic year 2025-2026, Karnataka has a total of 95 Ayurvedic Medical Colleges, including seven government and 88 private institutes. These medical institutes have a total intake capacity of 7,012 seats. However, allegations surfaced claiming that some of the teachers were only 'on-paper teachers' who appear in official records and receive salaries and other benefits. However, such teachers do not attend the colleges or teach the students. After conducting an inspection, NCISM identified 26 such ghost faculty members.
Under the NCISM (Ethics and Registration) (Amended) Regulations, 2023, a 'on-paper teacher' has been identified as someone who is a teacher duly appointed by the institution through a proper channel and who is expected to remain physically present in the institution, college, and attached hospital during working hours and in actuality remains absent from their duty.
As per the rules, "The Board shall suspend the individual’s name from the State Register and the National Register for such a period as the teacher’s code remains withheld by the Medical Assessment and Rating Board for the Indian System of Medicine. Further monetary penalties on the teachers and institutions shall also be imposed."
"During the period of suspension, permanent registration and any temporary registration obtained by the said teacher in any State/Union Territory shall also be deemed to be suspended for the same period. Teachers concerned, during the period of suspension, do not practice any System of Medicine anywhere in India, either on the basis of temporary registration or permanent registration, and do not exercise any rights and privileges attached to such registration, as applicable under the prevailing statutory provisions and regulations," reads the order.
Commenting on the matter, an official told The Hindu that there is a regulation as per which, an Ayurveda College in Karnataka must have a total of 14 departments and 51 faculty members across various ranks, for every 100 students. However, allegedly, faculty members often appear only during college inspections.
"The menace of ‘on-paper teachers’ is rampant in many private Ayurveda colleges across the State. This trend is driving Ayurveda colleges towards decline," the official from the Government Ayurveda College Hospital said.
Meanwhile, B.C. Bhagawan, Vice-Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences told the Daily, "I have not received any information regarding action against ‘on-paper teachers’. I will gather details from the officials concerned and ensure that appropriate investigations and legal actions are initiated against these colleges."
The issue of ghost faculty is not only a problem for the Ayurveda Medical Colleges. Medical Dialogues had previously reported that back in 2023, in an assessment conducted for the Academic Year 2022-2023, the National Medical Commission (NMC) had unveiled that the majority of the medical colleges were riddled with ghost faculties and senior residents.
