SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Aug 19: Appointment of a contractual professor, (Dr) Vinay Kumar Singh, as head of micro-biology department has triggered controversy at Shahid Nirmal Mahto Medical College Hospital (SNMMCH) Dhanbad.
While a section of senior teachers said that as per the National Medical Commission (NMC) and the state government medical education guidelines contractual teacher can’t be made HoD and only a regular member of faculty even if he or she is junior can be HoD.
SNMMCH principal Dr Jyotiranjan Prasad on Thursday appointed contractual professor Dr Vinay Kumar Singh as HoD of the micro –biology department. Since 2021 senior resident (SR) Dr Sujit Kumar Tiwary was heading the faculty.
Jharkhand state health department Medical Education director Dr SK Singh when contacted today over the issue said that as per the health department rules only regular faculty member can be a HoD even if he is a junior and not contractual teacher.
Dr Sujit Kumar Tiwary is the lone regular member of micro biology department. He continued as HoD even after Dr Vinay Kumar Singh rejoined the institution on contract basis for five months “ However if the faculty is without a regular member, a contractual teacher can be made HoD under a temporary arrangement,” said director medical education of state Dr Singh.
However, a former principal of SNMMCH said that it is authority of the principal. There is no post of HoD in any faculty. He said the state government does not appoint HoD in any medical college. The HoD is appointed on seniority base.
“Whereas matter of Dr Vinay Kumar Singh is concerned he should have been made HoD at the time of enrollment (contract). NMC is mulling over removing Msc teacher from medical colleges. Over MSc teacher, NMC rules say he or she can be given promotion till associate professor but can’t be made professor,” said the former principal, who wished not to be quoted name.
Interestingly, two retired senior professors Dr Kameswar Biswas (anesthesia) and Dr Pratibha Rai ( gynaecology) are also working on contract for months but they have not appointed as a HoD.
An official of SNMMCH justifying action of the principal said that NMC does not recognize a senior resident as faculty member. Dr Sujit Tiwary is a senior resident. Moreover, he is not MBBS and is MSC that can’t be HoD of made any department of medical college.
However, according to director, medical education of state Dr SK Singh a senior resident is also faculty member as he teaches students.
