Team Herald
PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has issued notice to the government, Goa Medical College and Hospital, Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour (IPHB) and an associate professor in a petition challenging appointment of IPHB Head.
Dr Ashutosh Desai, presently working as Associate Professor, has challenged appointment of his junior to the post of IPHB Head by ignoring his seniority.
Desai stated that the orders relieving him from the HoD post is illegal, arbitrary, uncalled for.
“The petitioner is the senior most in the grade of Associate Professor which as per the Goa, Daman and Diu Medical Education Service Rules, 1979 is the feeder grade to the post of professor. The petitioner has had an impeccable service record. The petitioner is in fact senior to the respondent no seven (Junior Associate Professor) by over five years,” reads the petition.
“Therefore the Impugned Orders dated June 30, 2021 and July 5, 2021 which giving charge of professor, IPHB to the respondent no seven therefore are clearly an attempt to play foul on the settled seniority. The action on the part of the respondent no two (IPHB Administration) and five (Under Secretary Health I) therefore in issuing the said Impugned Orders, thereby discriminating against the senior-most and most meritorious employee in the feeder cadre is illegal and in gross violation of the Constitution of India.”
The petitioner has sought from the HC directions to the authorities to withdraw the orders that appoints his junior as HoD; and to direct the concerned authorities to hand over charge to the post of professor and HoD, IPHB to him till such vacancy is filled on regular basis among others.
