Enough delay in filling up posts in health dept: HC

Shimla: Taking note of the delay in filling up various vacant posts in the state health department, the Himachal Pradesh high court has directed the secretary, HP Staff Selection Commission, ex-servicemen cell, and director, Youth Services and Sports (YSS), to file affidavits revealing when the recruitment process will be completed.

The high court said there has already been an inordinate delay and if these recruiting agencies fail to complete the process within a reasonable period, this court will be forced to take a serious view of the matter. “Their affidavit shall also give a time-bound schedule to fill up these posts as well,” it added.

Hearing the matter on Monday, the division bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ajay Mohan Goel said in case the secretary, HP Staff Selection Commission, fails to give a satisfactory explanation, the chairman of the commission shall also remain present in the court on the next date of hearing on January 3, 2019.

It also clarified that all those doctors who have consented for appointment on contract basis during walk-in-interview, may be given appointment within one week.

The issue had come to the fore, after two writ petitions had been filed in public interest, highlighting alarming deficiency of medical officers, paramedical staff in various hospitals in the state, especially in the rural areas.

Dr Baldev Kumar, director, health services, had filed an affidavit on September 28, giving details of vacant posts in different categories.

During the previous hearing, the state counsel was granted time to apprise the court about the time-bound actions which the state government plans to take to resolve the problem related to “basic health amenities in different parts of the state”.

The court was informed that Dr Ajay Kumar Gupta, new director, health services, had filed an affidavit on November 22, but the same is not on record. The senior additional advocate general had handed over a copy of the same for the perusal of court.

HC observed that requisition to fill up 208 posts of medical officers has been sent to the HP Public Service Commission on September 15, 2018, directing the commission to expedite the selection process and its secretary to file affidavit-cum-status report, giving time schedule within which recruitment shall be completed.