AIIMS faculty slams order defining duty hours

The Faculty Association of AIIMS (FAAIIMS) on Tuesday slammed a recent circular which defines the general duty as 9.30 a.m to 5.15 p.m, saying it would lead to curbing working hours instead of increasing.

The circular was issued on October 9 by the computerisation committee of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

A senior doctor at AIIMS and a member of FAAIIMS explained that work in many departments starts well before 9.30 a.m. The operation theatre (OTs) normally starts work by 8 a.m. and Out Patient Departments (OPD) by 8.30 a.m.

"The faculty members don't go for lunch unless they are done with their patients. In such a situation what is the relevance of bringing out such a circular," he asked.

In an earlier statement, the FAAIIMS stated: "It is such a ridiculous circular, that mentions that faculty to come at 9.15 a.m and leave by 5.15 p.m. Most of the faculty and paramedical staff come at 8 a.m. and in several departments, out patient services run till 7-8 p.m."

According to the circular, the bio-metric attendance system has been implemented in the institute including its peripheral centres for all its employees, faculties, scientists, projects employees and Ph.D students.

The circular, signed by Deepak Agrawal, chairman, computerisation committee, says: "The general duty is defined as 9.30 a.m. to 5.15 p.m. with half-an-hour lunch break from Monday to Friday and 9.30 to 1.15 without lunch break on Saturday."

However, it also said that biometric attendance system was only an enabling platform.

"There is no change in the instructions relating to office hours, late attendance etc. which will continue to apply," the circular, a copy of which is with IANS, said.

The AIIMS has on its strength over 13,000 staffers, including doctors, junior and senior residents, nurses and ward boys.

Agrawal said the circular has been brought out to have uniformity in timings. "We just want a uniformity in the arrival timing of all the faculties and other staff on duties."