‘By temporary arrangements you are creating problems’
Legal correspondent
Srinagar, February : The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the state government to disclose the stand about filling up of post of Principal of Srinagar’s Government Medical College on “regular” basis.
Division bench comprising Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar and B S Walia asked government to disclose the policy within one week.
The order was passed by the bench after Principal GMC Dr Qaisar filled an appeal before division bench against the order of single bench on December 31.
Bench observed that government is creating problems by making temporary arrangements of officials in the department.
On December 31, Justice Janak Raj Kotwal directed the state government to fill up on “regular” basis the post of Principal of Srinagar’s Government Medical College within four weeks or follow seniority list for a temporary posting. The order was passed on a petition filed by Dr Javed Chowdhary, who laid claim to the post of the Principal based on his seniority.
Dr Rafiq Pampori resigned as Principal of the Medical College last year and sought voluntary retirement alleging that he was not being consulted on important decisions relating the college.
Ignoring the seniority list, the government appointed Dr Qaiser Ahmad Koul — junior to Dr Chowdhary — as acting Principal in his ‘own pay and grade’.
“In case principal is not appointed for any reason, whatsoever, the impugned order shall stay and it shall be open for the respondents (competent authority) to make fresh temporary arrangement in which seniority shall prevail,” it said.
Although the government has not given any reason for not following the seniority list while making the temporary appointment, the incidence of high infant mortality at G B Pant Hospital here in 2012 is believed to be held against Dr Chowdhary, who was Medical Superintendent of the institution at that time.