Colleges short of professors ahead of MCI inspections

In all, the institutions in the state require as many as 1,020 professors. At present, said Dr K Senthil, president of Tamil Nadu Government Doctors’ Association (TNGDA), there is a shortage of 527 professors. The last announcement of promotions came in 2015 for 157 posts, he said, adding: “Over 150 promotions are still due and the government had assured to issue them. However, they are still pending.”

These have a direct impact on the career fortunes of professionals. For instance, the association said around 200 associate professors have retired without getting deserving promotions. “Though these posts had been sanctioned under the Government Order 354 in 2009, it was not issued due to administrative hiccups,” he added.

“All the other promotions in the Tamil Nadu Medical Services are issued every year. But the sanctioned professors’ posts are getting delayed, though the government would incur no additional financial commitment because of that,” said Dr Senthil.

The association had resolved to boycott all MCI inspections if the promotion orders were not issued by October, but it deferred the move following assurances from the government. However, they have now made it clear that they would agitate if steps were not taken to meet their demands.