HP Govt terminates services of four Assistant Professors for prolonged absence, cites discipline concerns in Medical Colleges
Shimla, Dec 5,
In a firm move to enforce administrative discipline across its premier medical institutions, the Himachal Pradesh Health Department has terminated the services of four Assistant Professors who remained absent for prolonged periods from Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) Shimla and the Institute of Super Specialty, AIMSS Chamiyana.
Health Secretary M. Sudha Devi issued the termination orders on Thursday evening after the doctors allegedly continued private practice and repeatedly failed to comply with departmental notices seeking explanation for their absence.
The state government has ended the services of Dr. Vikas Kumar (CTVS, AIMSS Chamiyana), Dr. Kunal Mahajan (Cardiology, IGMC/AIMSS Chamiyana), Dr. Tushar Patial (Plastic Surgery), and Dr. Naveen Kumar (Paediatrics, IGMC). All four had earlier been served show-cause notices, which officials say were either ignored or found unsatisfactory.
Documents reviewed by HimachalScape show that Dr. Vikas Kumar stopped reporting for duty on 31 July 2022 after seeking relieving to join AIIMS Bilaspur. However, he proceeded to join the new post without waiting for a mandatory No Objection Certificate. With no justification for more than three years of absence, his services were terminated under Rule 19 of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965.
The order pertaining to Dr. Kunal Mahajan records that he stopped attending duty from 1 October 2021, shortly after tendering his resignation, which had not yet been accepted. Having completed barely two years of service, he remained unauthorisedly absent for more than four years and did not reply to departmental communication. The government has terminated his service with retrospective effect from the date of absence and barred him from future appointment to this post.
Similarly, the department found that Dr. Naveen Kumar submitted a one-month resignation notice on 1 July 2022 but left IGMC on 2 August 2022 without awaiting approval. He subsequently joined another institution without permission and continued to remain absent for over three years. His explanation was rejected, resulting in termination under Rule 19.
Officials confirmed that the services of Dr. Tushar Patial were ended on comparable grounds of prolonged unauthorised absence and failure to follow compulsory government procedures.
Senior officials in the Health Department said the action was intended to reinforce accountability in institutions that handle the State’s most critical healthcare responsibilities. They added that unchecked absenteeism not only disrupts essential medical services but also undermines the training of postgraduate and super-specialty students.
The development comes at a time when Himachal Pradesh is battling an acute shortage of faculty in medical colleges. Owing to the exodus of specialists and ongoing discipline-related concerns, the government has repeatedly been compelled to extend the retirement age of faculty members to keep departments functional. Officials admit that the strain on human resources remains one of the biggest challenges for medical education and public health delivery in the state.
About the Author
The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
