Raj Bahadur to continue as Government Medical College and Hospital director

CHANDIGARH: Despite Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad's refusal of allowing extensions to PGI faculty on deputation two years ago, the UT administration has allowed Dr Raj Bahadur, the director principal of the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32 to continue on this post till the time that a regular appointment is made. Dr Raj Bahadur's tenure is to end on November 29.
UT home cum-health secretary, Anil Kumar, while pointing out that a case was going on with the Central Administrative Tribunal and that there was "no option left" with the UT administration, said, "Though most of the arguments in the case are over and the next hearing is expected to be on December 6, the regular appointment of the new director depends on the CAT order. The UPSC then will be communicated about the tribunal's order."
When asked about the Union health minister's order not allowing any extensions beyond three years, the health secretary said, "In principal that is acceptable. However we do not have any option, but to let the present director continue until the court case is over." Senior faculty rebut this reasoning saying that in such a situation, the senior most faculty can be handed over the charge until the appointment of a new director principal is made. "According to the recruitment rules of the college, the senior most faculty is supposed to hold the charge until the UPSC selects a regular candidate. The present director has been given so many extensions already," said a faculty.
Dr Raj has been serving as director principal of GMCH for over four years. He had joined the institute on deputation from the PGI on December 1, 2007. His deputation originally was for two years. The PGI director Dr Y K Chawla had also written a letter to the UT administration to repatriate him as he had already served beyond his tenure. The administration had sought time from PGI until the UPSC filled the post.