4 year defence service, no private practice: Chandigarh issues draft recruitment rules for govt doctors
Chandigarh: Government doctors appointed under the proposed 'UT Chandigarh Health Service Rules, 2026' may be required to serve in the Defence Services or on defense-related projects for at least four years, according to the recent draft recruitment rules released by the Chandigarh Administration.
The Health Department of UT Chandigarh has drafted the "UT Chandigarh Health Service Rules (Group-A General Duty Medical Officer Sub-cadre in Health Department), 2026", proposing new rules for the recruitment and service conditions of General Duty Medical Officers.
Releasing the draft notification, the administration has invited objections from stakeholders within 30 days from the date of uploading the draft rules on its website. It clarified that any objections submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
Doctors may be required to serve in Defence Services
Under the proposed rules, any officer appointed to the service may be required to serve in the Defence Services or in a post related to India’s defence for at least four years, including any training period.
However, the doctor cannot be required to undertake such service after completing 10 years from the date of appointment or joining the service and if the doctor has reached 45 years of age, would ordinarily not be required to serve in the Defence Services.
Private practice prohibited
The draft rules also propose a complete ban on private practice. The rules specified that doctors appointed under the UT Chandigarh Health Service will not be allowed to do private practice of any kind. This includes private consultations as well as laboratory practice.
Meanwhile, the doctors who are registered under the National Medical Commission or State Medical Councils will be eligible for a Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA) in addition to their salary.
As per the rates specified in the draft recruitment rules, the Director (Administration), Director (Hospital) and Additional Director will be placed at Level-13, with a pay scale of Rs 1,18,500 to Rs 2,14,100. The Chief Medical Officer will be placed at Level-12 (Rs 78,800 to Rs 2,09,200), while the Senior Medical Officer will be at Level-11 (Rs 67,700 to Rs 2,08,700) and the Medical Officer will be placed at Level-10, with a pay scale of Rs 56,100 to Rs 1,77,500.
"A Medical Graduate appointed to the post of Medical Officer or Senior Medical Officer or Chief Medical Officer or Director Hospital, for which a recognized Post Graduate Qualification is not essential, shall be given Post Graduate Allowance over and above the pay admissible in the relevant scale, at such rates as may be decided by the Government from time to time for possessing recognized Post Graduate Diploma or Post Graduate Degree as specified in Schedule-VI or under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 (102 of 1956)”: Provided that, if an officer, possess both the recognized Post Graduate Diploma and Degree, he shall be paid Post Graduate Allowance at the rate applicable for holding Post Graduate Degree only," the notice said.
Deputation can be used to fill medical posts
The proposed rules allow the Chandigarh Administration to fill the posts of Director (Hospital), Chief Medical Officer, Senior Medical Officer and Medical Officer through deputation if it considers it necessary.
The notice further adds, "Notwithstanding anything contained in rule 7, where the Administration is of the opinion that it is necessary or expedient so to do, it may, by order, for reasons to be recorded in writing and in consultation with the Commission wherever required as per prevailing instructions of Govt. of India, fill Director Hospital, Chief Medical Officer, Senior Medical Officer, Medical Officer by deputation of suitable officers holding analogous posts under the Central Government or State Governments or Union Territories and by short-term contract of suitable officers holding analogous posts under the Statutory Bodies, Autonomous Bodies, Semi- Government Organizations, Universities or Recognized Research Institutions."
Meanwhile, the duration of deputation or short-term contracts will be decided according to the central government's rules and instructions. The maximum age for appointment through deputation or short-term contract will be 56 years.
Two-year probation for Medical Officers
While doctors appointed through direct recruitment will generally have to complete one year of probation, a Medical Officer appointed at Level-10 will have a two-year probation period.
"Provided also that any such decision for extension of the period of probation of an officer shall be taken immediately before the expiry of initial period of probation and ordinarily within eight weeks, and communicated in writing to the concerned officer together with the reasons thereof for doing so within the said period," the notice mentioned.
After completing probation, an officer will be confirmed in the post if found fit for permanent appointment. If an officer is found unsuitable during probation or its extension, the appointing authority can discharge the officer from service or return the officer to the post held before joining the service, as applicable.
Providing more details, the government in the notice said, "During the period of probation or any extension thereof, officers may be required by the Appointing Authority to undergo such courses of training or to pass such examinations or tests including examination in Hindi as the Appointing Authority may deem fit as condition for satisfactory completion of probation. The other matters relating to probation of the members of the Service shall be governed by the orders or instructions issued by the Chandigarh Administration in this regard from time to time."
Seniority for promotions
The draft rules state that the seniority of doctors already appointed to the service will be determined according to the applicable Government of India instructions.
If an officer's seniority has not been fixed when the new rules come into effect, it will be determined according to the seniority rules that were applicable before these rules came into force.
For officers promoted up to the post of Director (Hospital), their seniority will generally remain the same as their seniority in the lower post from which they were promoted. However, if an officer is found "unfit" for time-bound promotion, their seniority at each level will be counted from the date on which they are actually promoted.
Method of Appointment in the Service
| S. No. | Name of the post | Method of Recruitment by Promotion/ Deputation/Direct | Field of selection and minimum qualifying service |
| 1. | Director (Admn.) (in Level-13 (Rs. 118500- 214100) | Deputation | in Level-13 (Rs 118500-214100) with six years' regular service in the grade or twenty years of regular service in the parent cadre. |
| By Deputation: Officers of Central/State Governments/U.T Administrations holding analogous posts on a regular basis in the parent cadre or department; (The period of deputation including the period of deputation in another ex-cadre post held immediately preceding this appointment in the same or some other organization/ department of the Central Government/ State Government/ UT Administration shall be as per the instructions / guidelines issued by the Government from time to time. The maximum age limit for appointment by deputation (including short-term contract) shall be not exceeding fifty six years (56 years) as on the closing date of the receipt of applications). | |||
| 2. | Director (Hospital) (in Level-13 (Rs 118500- 214100) | Promotion by selection without taking into account the vacancies failing which by deputation | in Level-13 (Rs 118500-214100) with six years' regular service in the grade or twenty years of regular service in the cadre in Health Department, Union Territory Chandigarh |
| 3. | Additional Director (in Level-13 (Rs 118500- 214100) | Deputation | in Level-13 (Rs 118500-214100) with six years' regular service in the grade or twenty years of regular service in the parent cadre. |
By Deputation: Officers of Central/State Governments/U.T Administrations holding analogous posts on a regular basis in the parent cadre or department; (The period of deputation including the period of deputation in another ex-cadre post held immediately preceding this appointment in the same or some other organization/ department of the Central Government/ State Government/ UT Administration shall be as per the instructions / guidelines issued by the Government from time to time.The maximum age limit for appointment by deputation (including short-term contract) shall be not exceeding fifty six years (56 years) as on the closing date of the receipt of applications). | |||
| 4. | Chief Medical Officer (Level-12 (Rs 78800-209200) | Promotion by selection without taking into account the vacancies | Senior Medical Officer in Level-11 (Rs 67700-208700) with five years' regular service in the grade. |
| 5. | Senior Medical Officer (Level-11 (Rs 67700-208700) | Promotion by selection without taking into account the vacancies ** | Medical Officer in Level-10 (Rs 56100-177500)with eight years' regular service in the level. |
| 6. | Medical Officer Level-10 (Rs 56100-177500) | 60 % - by deputation failing which by direct recruitment 40 % - by direct recruitment failing which by deputation Direct recruitment will be made on the basis of a written examination to be conducted by the Commission to be followed by an Interview or selection by the Commission by interview only in accordance with the age limit and educational qualifications and experience decided by the Commission for this purpose. The method of recruitment to be followed shall be decided by the Controlling Authority in consultation with the Commission on each occasion. | Essential: (i) A recognized MBBS degree qualification included in the First Schedule or Second Schedule or Part II of the Third Schedule (other than licentiate qualifications) to the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 (102 of 1956). Holders of Educational qualifications included in Part II of the Third Schedule should also fulfill the conditions specified in subsection(3) of section 13 of the Indian Medical Council Act,1956 (102 of 1956), |
| (ii) Completion of compulsory rotating internship candidates who may not have completing rotating internship shall be eligible to appear for the written examination provided that,if selected, they shall have satisfactorily completed the compulsory internship before appointment (iii) Age limit: usually 21–32 years for government posts (up to 35 years for certain Central Health Service posts), with relaxation for reserved categories as per government norms By Deputation: Officers of Central/State Governments/U.T Administrations holding analogous posts on a regular basis in the parent cadre or department; (The period of deputation including the period of deputation in another ex-cadre post held immediately preceding this appointment in the same or some other organization/ department of the Central Government/ State Government/ UT Administration shall be as per the instructions / guidelines issued by the Government from time to time. The maximum age limit for appointment by deputation (including short-term contract) shall be not exceeding fifty six years (56 years) as on the closing date of the receipt of applications). | |||
The existing Senior Medical Officers working in the Health Department (upto the date of publication of these rules in official Gazette) on deputation basis will continue as Senior Medical Officer, as mentioned in the notice.
Age and educational qualifications
| Name of the post | Age | Educational and other qualifications required |
| Medical Officer Level-10 (Rs 56100- 177500) | Not exceeding thirty- five years relaxable for Government Servants upto five years in accordance with the orders or instructions issued by the Government | Essential: (i) A recognized MBBS degree qualification included in the First Schedule or Second Schedule or Part II of the Third Schedule (other than licentiate qualifications) to the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 (102 of 1956). Holders of Educational qualifications included in Part II of the Third Schedule should also fulfill the conditions specified in subsection (3) of section 13 of the Indian Medical Council Act,1956 (102 of 1956), (ii) Completion of compulsory rotating internship candidates who may not have completing rotating internship shall be eligible to appear for the written examination provided that, if selected, they shall have satisfactorily completed the compulsory internship before appointment. |
Benchmarks for promotion
| Sr. No. | Promotion | Service Rendered | Benchmark | |
| From | To | |||
| 1 | Medical Officer Level-10 (Rs 56100-177500) | Senior Medical Officer Level-11 (Rs. 67700- 208700) | Eight years’ service | Overall “Good” |
| 2 | Senior Medical Officer Level-11 (R 67700- 208700) | Chief Medical Officer Level-12 (Rs 78800-209200) | Five years’ service | Very Good |
| 3 | Chief Medical Officer Level-12 (Rs 78800-209200) | Director Hospital (in Level-13 (Rs 118500- 214100) | Four years’ service | Very Good |
Miscellaneous Rules of recruitment/promotions applicable to all posts:
1. Consultation with UPSC is not required for the appointment by deputation to the post of Director (Admn), as specified in Schedule III.
2. Consultation with UPSC is required for the promotion to the post of Director Hospital, as specified in Schedule III, as per Govt. of India Instructions issued time to time.
3. Consultation with UPSC is not required for the promotion to the post of Chief Medical Officer and Senior Medical Officer as specified in Schedule III, as per Govt. of India Instructions issued time to time.
4. The total number of posts in the Health Department i.e. Chief Medical Officer, Senior Medical Officer and Medical Officer shall remain same as total strength of sanctioned posts in the said department at any given time. However, the aforesaid total combined sanctioned strength is subject to variation dependent on workload from time to time.
To view the notice, click on the link below:
