NAVVNEET DUBEY
Jammu: Principal of Government Medical College Doda has sought voluntary retirement from service, becoming the third head of the institution in six years to seek premature exit from the post. Sources said the Principal has formally applied for VRS, citing personal reasons, even as the administration is struggling to ensure stable academic and administrative leadership in newly-established medical colleges.
The development has highlighted a larger crisis in remote medical colleges across Jammu and Kashmir. Despite appointments being made on seniority basis by the government, senior faculty members show little interest in serving as Principals in peripheral colleges like Doda, Rajouri and Baramulla, preferring postings in Jammu and Srinagar. Frequent transfers and early exits have affected institutional growth, academics and patient care, with the government yet to put in place an incentive-based tenure policy to retain heads in remote colleges.
The first academic session at GMC Doda commenced in 2020. The first Principal, Dr. Tariq Azad, was a native of Doda and completed his tenure. Subsequently, Dr. Noor Ali assumed the position for a few months. Subsequently, the Department of Health and Medical Education assigned the additional charge to Dr. Dinesh Kumar, Head of the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine at GMC Jammu. However, he took early retirement and left.
Subsequently, Dr. Pooja Vimesh, Head of the Department of Anesthesia at the Super Specialty Hospital, was assigned the additional charge. However, she too stepped down after some time, citing health reasons. Dr. Rakesh Banal subsequently became the Principal and completed his tenure. Now, Dr. Devraj Dogra—the Head of the Dermatology Department at Shri Maharaja Gulab Singh Hospital—has been given the additional charge of Principal of GMC Doda, but he too has applied for voluntary retirement (VRS).
A similar situation prevailed at GMC Kathua and Rajouri as well. Some principals managed to get themselves transferred before completing their tenures. All senior professors aspire to become the Principal of GMC Jammu. The path ahead is not easy for the Department of Health and Medical Education either. Even if the application for voluntary retirement submitted by the Principal of Doda Medical College is accepted, the senior professors next in line are showing no interest in assuming the role of Principal at Doda GMC.
Many senior professors at GMC Jammu believe there is no clear policy regarding the appointment of the Principal. It does not necessarily mean that the most senior professor will prove to be the best Principal and while the government does not appoint certain professors who show an interest in becoming the Principal.
Ignoring the professors who had initially shown interest in the Udhampur Medical College, the government appointed someone who did not even wish to become the principal. The government needs to formulate a clear policy.
