SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Nov 17: Eight candidates from Jharkhand have entered the race for the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) Ranchi director post along with out-of-state candidates for which the last date of applying ends today.
Sources said among eight candidates seven are from RIMS Ranchi while one claimant is from a state government-owned medical college.
The name of Dr Arun Kumar Choudhary, principal of Phulo Jhano Medical College Hospital (PJMCH) Dumka, who is said to be the senior most faculty member in Jharkhand medical colleges including RIMS Ranchi, is making rounds but he has not opened his card whether he has applied or not.
However, Dr SK Singh, principal of Sheikh Bhikhari Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) Hazaribagh, who is also the director of the medical education wing of the state health department, when contacted said that he had not applied for the post.
The names of RIMS senior teachers making rounds in the race for director’s post are present acting director Dr Rajiv Kumar Gupta (HoD eye), superintendent Dr Hirendra Birua (HoD paediatric surgery), Dr CB Sahay (HoD Neuro), Dr Pankaj Bodra ( HoD surgery), Dr CB Sharma (HoD Medicine).
The names of Dr Vidyapati (medicine ) and Dr AK Dubey (HoD anatomy) are also making rounds in the RIMS circle. Both are considered as the senior most faculty members in the institution. But both have not opened their card to date.
When Dr Kameshwar Prasad resigned from the post of director in May this year, the RIMS administration sent four names (Dr Vidyapati, Dr Rajiv Kumar Gupta, Dr Pankaj Bodra and Dr AK Dubey) to the government for the acting director post. But the Health minister gave his nod to Dr Gupta.
A senior faculty member of a medical college said that this time government has added a new clause of taking NOC (from the government) which casts a shadow on the chance of the state’s eligible candidates.
Among teachers in five medical colleges, only Dr Arun Kumar Choudhary of Dumka Medical College is eligible for the post. He has 21 years of administrative experience, 19 years of professorship and six and a half years of serving as principal and superintendent.
He became HoD of Pharmacology in the Patliputra Medical College Hospital (PMCH) Dhanbad in 2002. He was promoted to the post of professor in 2004 and became principal through commission in 2010.
