In Jammu and Kashmir most doctors selected for the Field Diploma Course to man the posts of gynaecologists in rural areas after completing the course are not working at the places where they were supposed to, sources told News 24.

In 2000, authorities allegedly threw all norms to admit 40 doctors, mostly wards of influential people, to the diploma course without appearing for the entrance test, sources said. A doctor on the verge of retirement was selected, as she happened to be the wife of a senior functionary of the department of State. The candidates selected for the course through the competent authority challenged the selections in the state court.

That time, the Junior Doctors Association and the then principal, Government Medical College Kashmir, Dr Ashiq Hussain Naqashbandi, opposed the move terming it as a dangerous step that could invite the wrath of the Medical Council of India (MCI). He had argued that this would lead to the de-recognition of the college.

In the High Court of Kashmir, Dr Naqashbandi and the then vice-chancellor of Kashmir University, Dr Wahid Qureshi in their statements had said that it was a dangerous precedent. However, in subsequent hearings in 2006 Dr Naqashbandi’s successor and the director of health in Kashmir changed their stance.

They claimed that government had not violated MCI guidelines by selecting 40 doctors without appearing for the entrance. Besides, they said that the health ministry had not fixed any criteria for the recruitment for the course.

They had argued that more doctors doing this course would help the government to meet the demands for gynaecologists in the rural areas.

In 2006, the High Court of Kashmir directed the Directorate of the Health in Kashmir that these doctors after completing their course should be immediately sent to rural areas for five years.

The Court had also directed that they should not be handed over their degrees till they complete five years of their service.

Sources said most of the candidates who were selected without appearing in the entrance examination after completing their course didn’t go to the rural areas. “Some are working in the blood banks, some of them are in city hospitals and some of them have rushed to gulf countries,” sources added.