SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Dec 25: The Jharkhand government has carried out a major administrative reshuffle in state-run medical colleges, appointing four senior professors as principals-in-charge and removing two medical superintendents from their posts just seven days before their scheduled retirement.
The changes come ahead of the retirement of principals and superintendents at Phulo Jhano Medical College and Hospital (PJMCH), Dumka; Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College and Hospital (MGMMCH), Jamshedpur; Medinirai Medical College and Hospital (MMCH), Palamu, on December 31, and in view of the vacant principal’s post at Shahid Nirmal Mahto Medical College and Hospital (SNMMCH), Dhanbad. The reshuffle was notified by Additional Secretary Anand Kumar Sinha on Wednesday evening.
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New Principals Appointed
As per the notification, Prof Sanjay Kumar from the ENT department of MGMMCH has been appointed principal of MGMMCH, Jamshedpur. He will replace Dr Diwakar Hansda, who is due to retire on December 31.
Dr Gajendra Kumar Singh of the Pharmacology department, MGM, has been made principal of PJMCH, Dumka. He will take over from Dr Arun Kumar Choudhary, the senior-most professor in Jharkhand, who is also set to retire on December 31.
Dhanbad and Palamu Colleges Get New Heads
Prof Ram Krishna Mahto from the Microbiology department of Sheikh Bhikhari Medical College and Hospital (SBMCH), Hazaribagh, has been appointed principal of SNMMCH, Dhanbad with immediate effect from December 24. The post had remained vacant following the retirement of Dr S.K. Chourasia, with Superintendent Dr D.K. Gindauria holding additional charge as officiating principal.
Meanwhile, Dr Jakka Sriniwas Rao of the Forensic Medicine and Toxicology (FMT) department, MGM, has been appointed principal of MMCH, Palamu. He replaces Dr Paras Nath Mahto, who is scheduled to retire on December 31.
New Superintendents Named
In another key decision, Prof Balram Jha, Head of the Department of Medicine at MGM, has been appointed superintendent of MGMMCH, Jamshedpur with immediate effect from December 24. He replaces Dr R.K. Mandhan, who is due to retire on December 31.
The removal of Dr Mandhan just seven days before retirement has surprised many in the state’s medical education circles.
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Similarly, Prof Ruben Hembram of the Surgery department at PJMCH has been appointed superintendent of PJMCH, Dumka with effect from December 24. He replaces Dr Ajay Kumar Choudhary, who is also scheduled to retire on December 31.
The decision to strip senior officers of the superintendent’s post days before retirement has become a topic of discussion within the medical fraternity.
