Govt tells Gian Sagar medical college management to pay staff by April 30

CLASSES SUSPENDED IN COLLEGE SINCE FEBRUARY 25 AS EMPLOYEES HAVE NOT BEEN PAID SALARIES SINCE SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR

PATIALA: The state government on Wednesday directed the management of Gian Sagar Medical College and Hospital, Banur, to pay salaries to its staff within a month, the failure to comply with which would attract stern action, it is learnt.

The classes in the college have been suspended since February 25 as both teaching and nonteaching staff have been protesting against the non-payment of salaries since September last year. This has affected the stud- ies of nearly 500 MBBS students and an equal number of dental and nursing students studying here. The hospital’s functioning has also been badly hit as only first-aid facility is available in the emergency ward with no OPD facility for the past one month, it is learnt.

Medical education secretary Hussan Lal said the college management, which was summoned for a meeting with medical education and research minister Anil Joshi on Wednesday, was given time till April 30 to clear the dues of the staff. “We will also issue them a show-cause notice on Thursday to seek details of their financial position and their overall pay plan over the next one month, he said, adding, “If they do not abide by the deadline, we will explore stringent options since the government can’t allow the college to play with the future of students.” He said the minister categorically told them to end the crisis and resume normal work.

When asked as to why the college is facing a financial crisis, Lal said it was a glaring example of the financial mismanagement by the college authorities. He said, “The fee structure in the private college is quite high as compared to government colleges and their still facing the financial crisis is surprising.” He said the college authorities had assured them to release the salaries in the stipulated time.