Hyderabad HC to Telangana govt: Give information on shortage of professors

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court has directed the Telangana government and the Medical Council of India to explain reasons for shortage of professors in government medical colleges in the state by October 24. A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice J. Uma Devi was hearing a petition by the Society for Social Awareness represented by president Dr J. Harikrishna Goud seeking to declare the action of the government in re-tiring experienced and qualified medical teachers at the age of 58 years allowing them to be employed by private medical colleges till the age of 70 years and not taking steps to fill up vacant posts of medical teachers in government colleges as illegal.

Mr Sarasani Satyam Reddy, senior counsel appearing for the petitioner, submitted that the government is setting up three new colleges without filling the vacancies. He said most of the doctors become assistant professor at the age of 45 and then retiring at the age of 58 years. He told the court most of the professors, who gain experience in government colleges, we-re joining private colleges as the retirement age in private colleges is 70 years. He brought to the notice of the court that every year 80 professors were retiring from the government colleges at the age of 58 and joining private colleges, which, in turn, is adversely affecting the quality of medical education and the quality of services to the poor and needy state citizens of state.

He submitted that the state government was sending the professors to the new colleges to fulfill requirement of the MCI guidelines to get approval from the MCI to start three new colleges in the state. He urged the court to direct the state government take steps to fill vacant posts in the government. The bench directed the respondents to file affidavits explaining the reasons for shortage of professors in the colleges.