Jammu, August 12: Senior BJP leader and former Minister Bali Bhagat strongly criticised the Omar Abdullah-led government and Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo for failing to finalise the Service Recruitment Rules of more than 3,317 non-gazetted employees serving in five Government Medical Colleges across Jammu and Kashmir.
Bhagat said nursing, paramedical, technical, clerical and Multi-Tasking Staff recruited through the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board have been serving in GMC Rajouri, Doda, Kathua, Anantnag and Baramulla since 2019. Despite completing nearly seven years of service, they allegedly remain without a proper promotional hierarchy or career-progression framework.
“The Omar Government and Health Minister Sakina Itoo cannot continue hiding behind files, committees and bureaucratic procedures. Thousands of employees have been denied promotions, Departmental Promotion Committee meetings and legitimate career growth,” Bhagat said.
He alleged that the prolonged delay had also affected fresh recruitment because promotions at higher levels would ordinarily create vacancies at lower levels.
Bhagat said separate Gazetted Service Recruitment Rules for the five new GMCs were notified through SO 284 to SO 288 on August 18, 2021, and recruitment and promotional processes subsequently moved forward. Non-gazetted employees, however, were still waiting for an equivalent service framework.
“This glaring disparity exposes the Omar Government’s discriminatory approach. If rules for gazetted employees could be notified and their career progression ensured, why are nursing, paramedical, clerical and MTS employees being treated differently?” he asked.
The senior BJP leader referred to the Health and Medical Education Department’s official reply before the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, in which it acknowledged that the rules were being finalised in consultation with the Standing Committee constituted in the ARI and Training Department.
The Department also admitted that the proposed rules would address promotions, time-bound benefits, creation of posts, pay anomalies and nomenclature-related issues. However, Bhagat said the government had failed to specify any firm deadline.
“Merely saying that the matter is under active consideration is not an answer. The employees have already waited for seven years. Sakina Itoo must tell them when the rules will actually be notified,” he said.
Bhagat accused the Omar Government and the Health and Medical Education Department of showing insensitivity towards employees who form the backbone of hospital services.
“These employees work in wards, laboratories, operation theatres, emergency sections and administrative branches. They served the public during the most difficult periods, yet the government has left their careers in complete uncertainty,” he said.
Bhagat demanded that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah personally intervene and direct the Health and Medical Education Department to notify the rules within a fixed timeframe. He also sought immediate convening of DPC meetings, resolution of pay and designation anomalies, establishment of transparent promotional channels and recruitment against consequential vacancies.
“The Omar Government must end this administrative injustice. Equal work deserves equal opportunity. Finalise the Service Recruitment Rules and restore the dignity and career rights of every non-gazetted employee,” Bhagat added.
