Court Directs State Government to Disclose Vacancies, Advertisements, and Ad Hoc Appointments in Medical Departments by November 2, 2026
In a significant judgment dated October 13, 2026, the Allahabad High Court, presided over by Justice Siddharth Nandan, has taken suo motu cognizance of the unsatisfactory functioning of the Medical Education Department in the State of Uttar Pradesh. The Court expressed grave concern over the prevalent practice of running key departments of various State medical colleges through Associate Professors or contractual appointees instead of regular Professors, despite the existence of numerous vacancies for Professors.
The judgment stemmed from a writ petition filed by Srinivasan Gandhi against the State of Uttar Pradesh and others, highlighting the lethargic and unsatisfactory functioning of medical colleges across the State. The Court noted that instead of making regular appointments to the posts of Professors and Principals in these institutions, the authorities have been replacing ad hoc employees with other ad hoc employees, thereby affecting the accountability and quality of medical education and healthcare services.
The Court specifically cited medical colleges at Kannauj, Azamgarh, Banda, Badaun, and the State Medical College, Prayagraj, where more than 50% of the departments, including critical ones such as Cardiology, Microbiology, Radiodiagnostics, Psychiatry, Endocrinology, Neurology, and Neurosurgery, are headed by Associate Professors or contractual appointees. This situation, the Court observed, compromises the effective functioning and governance of these important medical departments.
To address this issue, the Court has directed respondent no. 3 (an official from the Medical Education Department) to file a detailed personal affidavit by November 2, 2026. The affidavit must disclose:
1. The total number of vacancies for the post of Professor in all medical colleges and institutions in Uttar Pradesh.
2. Whether requisitions for filling these vacancies have been sent by the medical colleges to the competent authorities.
3. Details of advertisements issued for the recruitment of Professors pursuant to such requisitions.
4. Reasons for non-issuance of advertisements for vacancies, despite requisitions being sent.
5. Whether the posts of Principals, which are currently being held on an officiating basis, have been advertised.
6. A comprehensive chart indicating the departments where Associate Professors are functioning as Heads of Departments and those where Heads are working on a contractual basis.
The Court warned that failure to comply with these directions would compel it to take further steps to fix accountability on the concerned officers responsible for the delay and irregularities in appointments.
This judgment underscores the judiciary's proactive approach in ensuring quality and accountability in medical education and the administration of public health institutions. It also sends a strong message to the State Government to expedite the regularization of appointments in critical academic and administrative positions within medical colleges, thereby safeguarding the standards of medical education and healthcare delivery in Uttar Pradesh.
The case has been listed for further hearing on November 3, 2026.
Bottom Line:
Medical education service - Large number of departments in State medical colleges being headed by Associate Professors or contractual appointees instead of regular Professors - Court expressed serious concern over non-filling of Professor posts and directed personal affidavit disclosing vacancies, requisitions, advertisements and departments being run by ad hoc/contractual Heads of Departments.
Statutory provision(s): Relates to administrative and service matters under Medical Education Department regulations and relevant State Government orders.
Srinivasan Gandhi v. State of U.P., (All) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2997304
