Odisha HC questions delay in faculty recruitment at Govt homeopathy colleges

Cuttack: Amid concerns over delays in regular faculty recruitment at government homeopathy medical colleges, the Odisha High Court has directed the state government to explain when it will finalise recruitment rules and start filling teaching posts.

The direction came during the hearing of a petition challenging a contractual recruitment advertisement that restricts appointments to retired government employees.

The matter was heard by a single-judge bench of Justice A.K. Mohapatra on a writ petition filed by eight qualified homeopathic doctors.

The petition challenged a June 18 advertisement issued for contractual engagement of teaching faculty in government homeopathy medical colleges, alleging that the eligibility criteria unfairly exclude qualified candidates who are not retired government employees, reports The New Indian Express.

As per the notification, the state invited applications through a walk-in interview for the appointment of 18 professors, 45 readers and 16 lecturers on a contractual basis. The petitioners argued that although they possess the qualifications required for these teaching positions, they have been denied the opportunity to apply because the recruitment has been limited to retired government employees.

Appearing for the petitioners, advocate Trilochan Dash submitted that the eligibility condition is arbitrary as it prevents qualified homeopathic doctors from competing for faculty positions solely on the basis of their employment status.

Representing the state, advocate A. Mohanty informed the court that regular recruitment has not yet been initiated because the rules governing appointments to teaching faculty posts in government homeopathy medical colleges are still under formulation. He further stated that the government has already begun the process of finalising the recruitment rules and is working to complete it at the earliest.

When the court sought a timeline for completing the rule-making process and initiating regular recruitment, the state's counsel requested additional time to obtain instructions from the government.

Granting the request, Justice Mohapatra allowed the state two weeks to file its response and directed that the matter be listed during the week commencing July 27.

As an interim measure, the High Court also ordered that any appointments made pursuant to the June 18 advertisement would remain subject to the final outcome of the writ petition.