Jammu, 13 May (H.S.): Non-Gazetted employees of Government Medical College (GMC) Kathua on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest demanding the immediate finalization and notification of long-pending Recruitment and Service Rules for subordinate staff working in the newly established Government Medical Colleges (GMC) across Jammu and Kashmir.

The protesting employees expressed serious concern over the continued delay in framing service rules for Non-Gazetted and Class-IV employees, stating that despite the establishment of new Government Medical Colleges nearly six years ago, the rules governing their recruitment, promotions, seniority, and service conditions are yet to be officially notified.

Employees said that although the Health and Medical Education Department had issued draft Recruitment and Service Rules in August 2025, the final notification has remained pending, creating uncertainty among thousands of employees working in these institutions. They added that around 300 Non-Gazetted employees are serving in each of the five newly established Government Medical Colleges, affecting nearly 1,500 employees across the Union Territory.

The employees highlighted that the absence of finalized rules has resulted in delays in promotions, seniority fixation, rectification of pay anomalies, and career progression. They said the prolonged uncertainty has negatively impacted employee morale and service security, despite staff continuing to perform essential healthcare and administrative duties with dedication. They further stated that several important administrative matters remain unresolved due to the non-finalization of service rules, including parity with employees of Government Medical College Jammu and Government Medical College Srinagar.

The delay, they said, has also affected fresh recruitment through Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board, impacting employment opportunities for educated youth and the efficient functioning of healthcare institutions.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar