High court stays SC panel curbs on PGI promotions

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday stayed the restriction imposed upon the PGI by the National Commission for Scheduled Castes in January to not hold departmental promotion committees for non-faculty staff members. In March, all PGI general and OBC category employee associations had represented against the move, saying the Supreme Court had held that the commission has no such powers under Article 338 of the Constitution. “The commission had issued the directions on a complaint filed by few disgruntled elements by misusing a letter head of the union and impersonating as its president/general secretary,” said Ashwani Munjal, general secretary of the union.Based on this contention, the PGI Employees Union (Non-Faculty) took up the matter with the PGI administration in a meeting held under the chairmanship of institute director Prof Vivek Lal. “Thousands of higher posts of more than 300 categories in different cadres are lying vacant. They could not be filled up in view of the illegal and arbitrary directions. This month we had again requested the PGI administration to hold a DPC meeting, but it was ignored,” said Munjal.On May 25, the union filed a writ petition before the high court. The order was passed on Tuesday. “It will bring desired relief to thousands of non-faculty staff. They will be considered for promotions against vacant posts. A good staff strength will improve patient care services and reduce queues and waiting period,” said Munjal.