The most-awaited Executive Board (EB) meeting of the VIMSAR was held on Monday. It was decided to go ahead with the appointment of teaching staffs, especially Assistant Professors, with immediate effect.

After this, the VIMSAR, the premier health institute of the State, will witness a new era since it will see 71 new faces in higher ranks.

Of course, out of these 71, more than 60 per cent are from outside and rest are from VIMSAR who are working here on deputation from the State Government.

“We will request the Government to relieve them so that they can join here permanently,” informed Prof Aswini Pujahari, the Director of the institute.

With this, the problem of staff crunch could be solved to a larger extent, Prof Pujahari added.

After the process for appointment for the posts of Assistant Professors began, there were so many legal complicacies and even cases were there in the Orissa High Court challenging the procedure.

But Prof Pujahari explained the EB members regarding steps taken in the matter after which the EB members approved issue of appointment letters to the newly selected staff only except in the Surgery Department as per the HC direction.

In another remarkable step, Prof Dr Braj Mohan Mishra of Surgery Department will be the acting Principal of the institute till permanent appointment is made.

Prof Mishra was the Superintendent of VIMSAR earlier and he had successfully discharged his duties then to the satisfaction of public, patients and the students.  However, it was decided to initiate process for appointment of permanent Principal, Superintendent and Registrar immediately so that administrative and academic activities could be streamlined in a better way.

In another remarkable decision, the executive board further decided that the Director can write the CCR of staff up to the rank of Associate Professor.

But the Professors and other higher posts could send their performance appraisal report (PAR) directly to the Secretary (Health).