WB Health Recruitment Board faces backlash over 621 Assistant Professor post interviews
Kolkata: The West Bengal Health Recruitment Board (WBHRB) is facing strong criticism for reportedly allowing several controversial faculty members to continue as domain experts in interviews for recruiting 621 assistant professors in state-run medical colleges despite strong opposition from doctors.
The controversy began when the names of the experts on the interview panel became public even before the recruitment process started. Since interviews began on November 14, the board has been flooded with complaints from candidates who fear that the process may not be fair.
The candidates alleged that the interview may lack transparency, as some interviewers are accused of being involved in corruption and threat culture. The interview is going to end on November 28.
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Meanwhile, the Association of Health Service Doctors, West Bengal, staged a protest in front of Swasthya Bhavan, demanding fair and unbiased recruitment in the West Bengal Medical Education Service.
Speaking to TOI, Utpal Bandyopadhyay, general secretary, said, "Though we demanded removal of controversial faculties from the panel, our demand has not been met."
Under the recruitment rules, panel experts are supposed to award 15 marks to each candidate. However, TOI sources say they are currently marking only out of 5, and the remaining marks are being allotted by the board itself.
In response to the complaints, WBHRB chairman Sudipto Roy said, "Some new experts have been added, but others have not been removed. The interview is being recorded on camera."
Sourav Dutta, chairman of the state-level grievance redressal cell, said, "I am disappointed that the HRB couldn't avoid controversy for hiring 621 assistant professors."
Karabi Baral, secretary of Progressive Health Association, said, "The board has not brought out any revised list of domain experts. We only heard from sources that some new experts have been added."
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