Chandigarh admn issues new guidelines for appointing HoDs at GMCH-32

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Chandigarh: The Chandigarh administration has issued comprehensive new guidelines governing the appointment of heads of departments (HoDs) at the Govt Medical College & Hospital (GMCH), Sector-32.
These measures aim to streamline the selection process, promote fairness, and ensure academic and administrative leadership continuity. This allows rotational headship where each HoD serves for a term of three years, which can be extended for another three years by the approving authority. This is the first time ever in the city for a public hospital to have this headship rotational scheme. The PGI and AIIMS Delhi have struggled for this for over a decade.
Prof GP Thami, medical superintendent, GMCH, said, "This has been issued by the chief secretary and will be implemented prospectively."
According to the official memorandum of the UT health department, the appointments will be overseen by a Standing Selection Committee comprising key officials: the secretary and additional secretary of medical education & research, the director principal of GMCH-32, and the director of health services.
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Vacancies for HoD positions will be widely advertised through the GMCH website and notice boards. Applications will be invited from eligible candidates, primarily professors, with provisions for associate professors to apply if no suitable professor is available. The top five senior-most applicants will be considered first, and a panel of at least three candidates will be finalised in order of preference. In cases where a junior candidate is preferred over a senior, written justification will be required.
Each HoD will serve a three-year term or until the age of 62, whichever is earlier. A maximum of two terms will be allowed during an individual's service tenure. The continuation for a second term may be recommended based on the candidate's willingness and performance. Importantly, the guidelines allow for early removal of a HoD based on recommendations from the medical superintendent or director principal, with final approval from the chief secretary.
Non-teaching specialists and General Duty Medical Officers (GDMOs) with designated teaching responsibilities may also be eligible for HoD positions to avoid academic communication gaps.
Eligibility will require at least one year of residual service, and integrity clearances will be mandatory. The final selection will be based on presentations, interviews, and past performance as recorded in Annual Performance Appraisal Reports, which must meet the 'very good' benchmark.
The Chandigarh administration emphasised that these updated guidelines have been approved by the competent authority and are intended to bring greater transparency, meritocracy, and structure to the leadership appointments within GMCH-32.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
- Vacancies for HoD positions will be widely advertised through GMCH website and notice boards
- Applications will be invited from eligible candidates, primarily professors, with provisions for associate professors to apply if no suitable professor is available
- The top five senior-most applicants will be considered first, and a panel of at least three candidates will be finalised in order of preference
- In cases where a junior candidate is preferred over a senior, written justification will be required
- Each HoD will serve a three-year term or until the age of 62, whichever is earlier
- A maximum of two terms will be allowed during an individual's service tenure
- The continuation for a second term may be recommended based on the candidate's willingness and performance
- Guidelines allow for early removal of an HoD based on recommendations from the medical superintendent or director principal, with final approval from the chief secretary
Chandigarh: The Chandigarh administration has issued comprehensive new guidelines governing the appointment of heads of departments (HoDs) at the Govt Medical College & Hospital (GMCH), Sector-32.
These measures aim to streamline the selection process, promote fairness, and ensure academic and administrative leadership continuity. This allows rotational headship where each HoD serves for a term of three years, which can be extended for another three years by the approving authority.
This is the first time ever in the city for a public hospital to have this headship rotational scheme. The PGI and AIIMS Delhi have struggled for this for over a decade.
Prof GP Thami, medical superintendent, GMCH, said, "This has been issued by the chief secretary and will be implemented prospectively."
According to the official memorandum of the UT health department, the appointments will be overseen by a Standing Selection Committee comprising key officials: the secretary and additional secretary of medical education & research, the director principal of GMCH-32, and the director of health services.
Vacancies for HoD positions will be widely advertised through the GMCH website and notice boards. Applications will be invited from eligible candidates, primarily professors, with provisions for associate professors to apply if no suitable professor is available. The top five senior-most applicants will be considered first, and a panel of at least three candidates will be finalised in order of preference. In cases where a junior candidate is preferred over a senior, written justification will be required.
Each HoD will serve a three-year term or until the age of 62, whichever is earlier. A maximum of two terms will be allowed during an individual's service tenure. The continuation for a second term may be recommended based on the candidate's willingness and performance. Importantly, the guidelines allow for early removal of a HoD based on recommendations from the medical superintendent or director principal, with final approval from the chief secretary.
Non-teaching specialists and General Duty Medical Officers (GDMOs) with designated teaching responsibilities may also be eligible for HoD positions to avoid academic communication gaps.
Eligibility will require at least one year of residual service, and integrity clearances will be mandatory. The final selection will be based on presentations, interviews, and past performance as recorded in Annual Performance Appraisal Reports, which must meet the 'very good' benchmark.
The Chandigarh administration emphasised that these updated guidelines have been approved by the competent authority and are intended to bring greater transparency, meritocracy, and structure to the leadership appointments within GMCH-32.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
- Vacancies for HoD positions will be widely advertised through GMCH website and notice boards
- Applications will be invited from eligible candidates, primarily professors, with provisions for associate professors to apply if no suitable professor is available
- The top five senior-most applicants will be considered first, and a panel of at least three candidates will be finalised in order of preference
- In cases where a junior candidate is preferred over a senior, written justification will be required
- Each HoD will serve a three-year term or until the age of 62, whichever is earlier
- A maximum of two terms will be allowed during an individual's service tenure
- The continuation for a second term may be recommended based on the candidate's willingness and performance
- Guidelines allow for early removal of an HoD based on recommendations from the medical superintendent or director principal, with final approval from the chief secretary

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