Jammu, Oct 10: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has ordered the creation of 121 posts of Senior Residents and Tutors in the Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) of Srinagar and Jammu by abolishing 307 posts of House Physicians and House Surgeons, a move that has drawn strong criticism from the medical fraternity.
According to Government Order No. 663-JK (HME) of 2025, issued by the Health and Medical Education Department, 54 posts of Senior Residents and Tutors have been created in GMC Srinagar through the reduction of 137 posts of House Physicians and House Surgeons. Likewise, 67 Senior Resident/Tutor posts have been created in GMC Jammu by abolishing 170 such posts.
The order was issued by Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, Secretary to the Government, following the Council of Ministers’ decision dated September 23, 2025. The restructuring aims to strengthen postgraduate medical education and align staffing with revised norms for medical colleges, officials said.
However, the decision has sparked widespread opposition among medical students and associations. Reacting sharply to the development, Dr. Mohammad Momin Khan, Vice President of the All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA), described the move as “really unfair,” stating that it would severely limit job opportunities for young medical graduates.
“The government has cut 307 House Physician posts to create 121 Senior Resident posts, resulting in a net loss of 186 positions. This effectively reduces MBBS job opportunities and deprives new graduates of essential clinical exposure,” Dr. Khan said.
He urged the administration to reconsider the order, emphasizing that hundreds of MBBS graduates depend on short-term hospital postings to gain experience and strengthen their professional skills. Medical students across J&K have also voiced concern that the move could discourage aspiring doctors and further strain already overburdened healthcare facilities.
Officials maintained that the reorganization is part of an ongoing effort to improve teaching standards and ensure that faculty positions are filled as per National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines, though no immediate relief has been announced for those affected. (Agencies)
