Expedite Faculty recruitment in GMCHs, HC tells Maharashtra Govt
Recruitment
Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has instructed the Maharashtra government to accelerate the recruitment process for medical faculty and enhance healthcare infrastructure in Government Medical Colleges and Hospitals (GMCH) across Vidarbha. The state government has stated that 38 associate professors are yet to be promoted to professors as per the notification issued on January 30 and February 4.
The directive came from a division bench comprising Justices Avinash Gharote and Abhay Mantri while hearing Suo Motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) No. 1/2023, which underscored the critical shortage of medical staff and inadequate facilities in government hospitals in the region, reports Times of India.
The PIL, initially filed by CH Sharma and others, raised concerns over vacant teaching positions and delays in procuring essential medical equipment. During the hearing, senior counsel Firdos Mirza, representing the state, submitted an affidavit from the dean of Indira Gandhi Government Medical College (IGGMC), Nagpur. The affidavit confirmed that promotion orders for 38 associate professors to professors had been issued with details of the remaining four positions to be provided at the next hearing.
According to the Daily, the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) informed the court that the recruitment process for 479 assistant professor posts had been completed, with 297 candidates recommended for appointment. Mirza further stated that 258 assistant professors had already joined their positions, along with 17 associate professors. Additionally, 954 vacant teaching posts had been identified and sent to the General Administration Department (GAD) for reservation approval.
The court directed the government to complete the certification and approval process for the remaining posts within three weeks, after which MPSC would proceed with the recruitment process. The state was also ordered to submit a comprehensive list of faculty postings before the next hearing.
The court also reviewed the implementation of the Maharashtra Medical Goods Procurement Authority Act, 2023. The Act was implemented to make special provisions for ensuring single-point procurement of certain medical goods and execution of turnkey projects with highest standards of transparency, fairness, equity and for timely supply at optimum and uniform rates. Additional government pleader (AGP) Deepak Thakare sought an extension until February 28 to submit the approved regulations under Section 36 of the Act. While granting the extension, the court emphasized the need for strict compliance within the stipulated timeline, ensuring that the procurement of essential medical goods is streamlined without further delays.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that in a move to address the increasing demand for medical professionals in government medical colleges, the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) initiated the recruitment process to fill 666 of the 1,600 vacant teaching posts, according to sources from the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER). These posts include 428 lecturers, 167 associate professors, and 71 professors for government medical colleges.
