400 teaching posts vacant in state medical colleges

The directorate of medical education and research (DMER) has now written to MPSC seeking handover of the receuitment process,so that the vacancies are filled expeditiously.

DMER director Pravin Shringare said while a large number of posts of lecturers,assistant professors and professors had been filled on an ad-hoc basis,about 400 of the 2,000 posts in the department were vacant.

“At present,50 per cent of promotions are being done by MPSC. The department promotes juniors. MPSC conducts exams and interviews to select the teaching staff. However,there are indefinite delays in its recruitment process.”

Gavit said reservation was another reason for the vacancies. “We are not finding able SC/ST and OBC candidates. Even when such candidates are found,there are hurdles such as invalidity of caste certificates. Retirement and resignations are another reason for the vacancies,” he said in a written reply to a question asked by MLC Deepak Sawant in the Legislative Council.

Sawant claimed 823 posts of assistant professors,263 of lecturers and 136 posts of professors were vacant.

The percentage of vacant posts was much higher at 31 three years ago. State removed several vacancies through ad-hoc appointments.

A DMER official,however,said such appointees were not considered teachers by Medical Council of India.

“There is also the issue of poor payscale,which gets worse for super-specialty teachers. Why would a neurosurgeon or cancer specialist work for a small salary when he can earn much more in a private college?” he said.