Jammu, January 14: Qualified postgraduate (PG) Ayurvedic doctors of Jammu & Kashmir have submitted a formal appeal to the Administrative Secretary, Health & Medical Education Department, seeking fair recruitment in government Ayurvedic medical colleges, creation of sanctioned faculty posts, and immediate withdrawal of what they termed as “illegal orders” designating medical officers as Professors and Heads of Departments (HoDs) in Government Ayurvedic Medical College (GAMC), Jammu.
In the representation, the doctors claimed that there are presently over 200–250 postgraduate Ayurvedic doctors in the Union Territory, many trained from reputed institutions including BHU, ITRA Jamnagar, NIA Jaipur, Patanjali Ayurvedic College Haridwar, AIIA New Delhi, and others. They stated that several among them possess PhD degrees and have teaching experience recognized by the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM).
However, the doctors alleged that despite their qualifications, they remain excluded from contributing to Ayurvedic education in J&K due to non-creation of faculty posts and issuance of deputation/designation orders that allow medical officers posted in dispensaries to occupy higher teaching positions.
Highlighting the case, the doctors referred to orders passed in GAMC Jammu whereby medical officers, allegedly without mandated teaching qualifications, were designated as Professors and HoDs in six departments, and later one more department, through deputation-based arrangements. They alleged this was done without following due process and in violation of NCISM PG regulations which define eligibility and teaching experience requirements for such posts.
The doctors further expressed concern that despite the fact that PG courses have already started in the institution, the administration has failed to create even basic sanctioned faculty posts required as per the regulatory norms. They termed it contradictory and against merit-based opportunities.
The appeal lists key demands including:
• Immediate withdrawal of deputation/designation orders assigning medical officers as Professors/HoDs.
• Urgent creation of sanctioned faculty posts as per NCISM regulations and start of a transparent merit-based recruitment process for PG teaching.
• Strict action against those responsible for alleged irregular designations and bypassing established recruitment norms.
The doctors stated that denying qualified postgraduates the opportunity to teach in their home institutions defeats the purpose of higher education and adds to unemployment burden among youth. They expressed hope that the government would take appropriate steps to ensure justice, fairness and academic integrity in Ayurvedic education in Jammu & Kashmir.
