CAT constitutes expert committee over DMS eligibility

Srinagar, Nov 8: The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) in Srinagar Friday constituted a panel of experts to find out whether working as ‘Causality Medical Officer’ would include ‘running a hospital’ which makes eligible a candidate for the post of Deputy Medical Superintendent in GMC Srinagar and Jammu.

A division bench comprising M S Latif Member (J) and Prasant Kumar Member (A) directed Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission’s (JK PSC) secretary to constitute the Committee of experts comprising director SKIMS, Principals of Government Medical Colleges Srinagar and Jammu, Secretary Health and Medical Education or any of his representatives not below the rank of special Secretary or any other expert which the Secretary PSC chooses, would facilitate in answering the query.

The tribunal ordered the constitution of the panel in response to Dr Kulbir Singh Jat’s plea that “he possesses the requisite qualification of post graduation (PG) in surgery and has three years of working experience of ‘running a hospital’ after PG for the post of Deputy Medical Superintendent in GMC Srinagar and Jammu.

As the plea came up for hearing, the bench observed that the reply filed by the PSC was “not up to the mark” as it did not indicate the required details as were sought for.

The bench observed that in the absence of PSC's clear stand as to “what does the experience of running a hospital after post graduation means”, it was expedient and in the interest of justice to constitute the panel of experts.

In its reply to the tribunal, the PSC stated that the “post of Deputy Medical Superintendent is directly related to the management of healthcare services, which is vital for the efficient functioning of the hospital and the well-being of patients”.

The reply also divulged that “any delay in filling up this position can adversely impact the delivery of healthcare services, and thus, such post needs to be filled up with utmost priority to ensure uninterrupted and effective medical care”.

The premier selection body also averred that for the post of Deputy Medical Superintendent there is requirement of post graduate qualification in Surgery, Gynecology or Medicine and or other Clinical Subject/Hospital Administration with three- year working experience of running a Hospital after PG.

Dr Kulbir’s contention is that he had been working as Causality Medical Officer in Government Medical College Anantnag from 28.01.2019 till 19.06.2023 and has produced a certificate in support of his claim.

He further contends that working as Causality Medical Officer would include running a hospital which is a requirement for the post in terms of PSC’s advertisement notice dated November 7, 2023

He submits that besides a qualification of PG in surgery, he has experience working as Causality Medical Officer from January 28, 2019, to June 19, 2023. Besides he submitted that he possesses experience having worked as a Registrar in the Department of Surgery.

Dr Kulbir’s further argument is that having qualified the written examination for the post, he deserves to be appointed for the post.