A group of Post-Doctoral Fellows (PDF) Monday accused SKIMS, Soura of resorting to favoritism, malpractices and preferring distance mode candidates for the posts of assistant professors in violation of norms.
Aspirants told Kashmir Post that SKIMS, Soura advertised a number of assistant professor posts in 2014 against different vacancies and the process of which has begun from the past three weeks.
“The Institute wants to appoint blue eyed candidates who have pursued their degrees via distance mode. The process of the selection is under way for the past three weeks,” a group of aspirants said.
They said some candidates have perused their degrees via distance mode and are linked with the top officials of the Institute.
“They are being preferred over Post-Doctoral Fellows (PDF) candidates,” the aspirants.
Alleging insufficient transparency in selection process they said the Institute is not following University Grants Commission (UGC) and Medical Council of India (MCI) guidelines in the appointments.
“The guidelines set by UGC suggest that the candidates applying for the post of assistant professor should have academic and practical experience for three years. But the norms set by Apical Selection Committee of SKIMS are being violated,” they alleged.
They claim that a candidate who has done his Ph.D from Vinayaka Missions University, his degree is not recognized by UGC and there are similar other cases.
They said the selection committee, which was constituted as the Governing Body for SKIMS, Soura is not serious about the malpractices and favoritism shown by the people in the Institute.
“They have not taken cognizance of the matter as “blue eyed” candidates who have pursued their degrees via distance mode are being preferred.”
Chief Minister is the Chairperson of the of the Body, Director SKIMS, Soura is the Member Secretary of the Governing Body besides former Director SKIMS and others as members.
Aspirants claimed that the authorities have left the Post Doctorate Fellows (PDF) candidates at the mercy of God having degrees and experience in genetics, molecular biology and immunology fields and their research papers have been published in America.
Aspirants also said the candidates who have applied for clinical pharmacology and biochemistry have qualified their degrees from distance mode and aren’t eligible for the selection.
“Where from they have done their degrees don’t fulfill the criteria of UGC guidelines and the authorities are least bothered about the messy selection process,” they said.
The aspirants also smell that the distance mode candidates on the backing of SKIMS administration have registered themselves without following any criteria.
“They have perceived their degrees while working in the Institute. They have hardly done any practicals. It is unfortunate that the PDF candidates have been rejected by the selection committee.”
SKIMS administration is shelving the norms and is deteriorating the reputation of the Institute adding, “It has become a hub of nepotism. We are apprehensive. They want to appoint distance mode candidates, their degrees have been rejected by MCI and Higher Education,” said the aspirants.
The selection is held under the guidelines of the Selection Committee and the experts are invited outside the state.
They also complained that the Institute has failed to develop clinical pharmacology, a science of drugs and their clinical use.
“It has remained a distant dream. They have ignored its development especially the phase-1 clinical trial which was to be done there. But it has now reduced to a small lab the focus of which remains on the application of pharmacological principles and quantitative methods in the real world,” they said.
“Since 1982 no clinical trial or research has been done in the Institute,” they added.
Director SKIMS, Soura Prof. A.G Ahangar, however, turned down the allegations and said that the selection is done on merit, not on rank.
“The allegations are far from the truth. The aspirants should come to us with a clear cut proof,” he said.
He said those who are eligible for the posts and whose credentials are up to mark will be appointed.
SKIMS appoint ‘Blue eyed’ as asst professors, allege Post-Doctoral Fellows
