No extension to civil surgeons, Punjab clears the air

PATIALA: Amid rumours that civil surgeons are being given extension in services, the Punjab government on Wednesday categorically stated that no such move is under consideration.
There were rumours that the civil surgeons are being given extension till next March in view of the Covid crisis, despite a notification issued by the state government in March this year, which had ended all extensions given to the state government employees.
This had caused heart burns amongst senior medical officers, who are scheduled to retire in the next six months to one year, as extension to the civil surgeons would affect their prospects of promotion.
Earlier, sources in the health department had said a file recommending extension in services of the civil surgeons had been moved in the state health department, which had been put up for the consideration of the cabinet.
In March, this year, the state government had decided to discontinue the optional extension policy of granting a twoyear extension to the state government employees to generate employment opportunities for the youth.
When contacted, additional chief secretary, health and family welfare, Anurag Aggarwal categorically denied that there was any move to extend the services of the civil surgeons.
“No such file has been moved at any level till now,” he said, adding that the state government has already cleared promotions of senior medical officers and the modalities to promote them to the posts of civil surgeon and deputy director, health department are being worked out.
However, senior medical officers in the state health department contended that to date, no meeting of the departmental promotion committee (DPC) has been held.