CHANDIGARH, July 21: Resentment prevails among the adhoc faculty members at the PGI as their plea for extension in their service has yet not been accepted by the Health Ministry.About 40 doctors are working against ad hoc posts of assistant professor for which the regular appointments had not been made since 1994 as the matter was subjudiced. Out of these, about 20 doctors, who continued to work even after their extension period expired in March, have not even received their salaries for last four months and there is no assurance from the administration that they will get it.On July 16, the authorities informed some of these adhoc doctors, "You are working in the department at your own risk as further extension will be governed by the decision of the president of the institute." The extension period of the other adhoc doctors however will expire latest by September. The director, PGI has the power of giving extension up to one year and after that the extension has to be sought from the Health Ministry at a regular basis.About 120 out of 325 faculty posts are lying vacant at the PGI and the interviews for the same have not been held for last four and a half years as the matter is subjudiced in the court.PGI therefore, recruited 40 doctors on the adhoc basis against the posts of assistant professors to cope with the patient rush. It is still a question, how the hospital will run on such a thin staff. Every department has more posts of assistant professors than any other faculty posts. Each department at the PGI on an average has about four assistant professors besides one post each of professor, additional professor, associate professor.By the end of this year, all posts of assistant professor will fall vacant as the remaining assistant professors will get promoted to the rank of associate professor (an assistant professor becomes associate professor after five years). The appointments for the posts of assistant professors were made in June 94.The adhoc faculty members made an representation to the deputy director, administration, seeking further extension in February, one month prior to the expiry of their extension period. They were told to wait for the response from Delhi in this regard.PGI director's says, "We are expecting a positive response with regard to extension in their service from the Health Ministry. There is no point in holding back their salaries. And they will be given salaries for the period they have worked." Top
