Even as the State is facing a huge crisis due to acute shortage of doctors in Government run hospitals, the process of appointing new doctors is being delayed inordinately.
Although a conflict over age limit in selection of candidates for doctors’ appointment has been resolved by the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT), the authorities are facing difficulties in filling up the vacant posts.
last year, the Government had issued an advertisement for appointment of 200 dentists through Odisha State Public Service Commission (OPSC). However, several cases were filed in SAT raising question on the advertisement and law implemented related to appointment.
The SAT had not stayed the appointment process, but directed OPSC to accept the candidature of the applicants stating that the future of the applicants will depend on the verdict of the court.
Although the OPSC had completed the candidate selection process, it could not send the final eligibility list to the Government. The applicants argued that the candidates after clearing the medical entrance test get opportunity for enrolment at the medical and dental colleges. A person after successful completion of five years course along with internship is eligible to obtain licence to continue practising medical profession.
As per the new law, the upper age limit for filling up the dentist post has been kept at 32 years. However, it is impossible to obtain a licence after completing PG in dental science and medical at the age of 21 years which is lower age limit. Challenging the norm, several candidates approached SAT and appealed the court to accept 23 years as the lower age limit instead of 21 years.
The bench comprising SAT’s Acting Chairman BK Dash and Administrative Member SK Dash justified the applicants’ demand over age hike while pulling up the Government for failure over relaxing the maximum age limit.
Besides, the tribunal directed the Government to provide a chance to the candidates who are disqualified on the ground of age to claim their candidature. The SAT also asked to include those candidates in selection process.