Delhi HC notice on plea of professors against UCMS transfer

The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice to the central and city governments and Delhi University on a plea by a group of professors seeking to quash a decision to transfer the University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS) to the Delhi government.

Justice Rajiv Shakdher sought response from the ministry of health and family welfare, ministry of human resources and development, Delhi government, Delhi University and UCMS, and posted the matter for May 25.

The UCMS was given a six-month deadline to end dual administration and give all control to the Delhi government.

However, a group of professors moved the court saying they wished to continue their employment under Delhi University.

The dispute over dual administration of UCMS, while its mother hospital Guru Tegh Bahadur (GTB) falls under the Delhi government has been going on for over a decade.

In 2005, the high court while dealing with the issue had provided three options - first, convert UCMS and GTB hospital into an autonomous body; second, transfer UCMS to the Delhi government; and third, bringing GTB hospital under Delhi University.

Advocate R.K. Saini, appearing for the professors, told the court that they were aggrieved by the decision of the union cabinet that approved the option by which the Delhi government would make a proposal to the department of secondary and higher education under the HRD ministry, to take over UCMS.

The petition filed by eight professors and an associate professor of UCMS said there was a "genuine and legitimate need for review of the cabinet decision in order to safeguard the existence of institutions under autonomous bodies such as University of Delhi created under an Act of parliament".

"The teaching and non-teaching staff of UCMS are not in favour of any move of the authorities to change the present arrangement of their employment," the plea added.