NEW DELHI: Days before the parliamentary election results are announced and a new cabinet formed, the Congress-led UPA government has moved yet another controversial proposal - to increase the retirement age of the director and teaching faculty of AIIMS from 65 years to 70 years.

An 'extraordinary' meeting of the institute's highest decision making body has been called by health minister Ghulab Nabi Azad on May 12 to discuss this. Earlier, the UPA government had to revoke its decision to appoint a Lokpal panel and new Army chief as the Opposition cried foul.

According to the meeting agenda, a copy of which is with TOI, the age of superannuation of the director needs to be enhanced "to bring stability in administration to ensure adequate time period to take up developmental activities." It adds, "The age of superannuation of teaching faculty needs to be enhanced from the present 65 years to 70 years on the pattern of other higher educational institutions like IITs, so the services of the talented and experienced senior faculty members could be retained..."

Dr M C Misra, the present AIIMS director, was appointed in October last year and many faculty members opposed to this move say it is clearly aimed at favouring him. "The meeting is being called on an election day and with only four days to go for formation of the next government. It is illegal and smacks of favouritism," alleged a senior doctor, who did not want to be identified. The meeting of the Institute Body, highest decision-making body of AIIMS, is proposed by the director and approved by the health minister, who is president of the medical institute.

Though Misra refused to comment, AIIMS officials defended the move on the grounds of shortage of senior and experienced medical teaching faculty at the institute. "The increased requirement of assistant professors - which is entry level - can be met, but it would be difficult to provide replacement at professor level immediately. Senior faculties keep on leaving the cadre owing to the attraction of other sectors," said an official.

He pointed out that 43 faculty members, including senior professors, would be retiring between 2014 and 2017.

The agenda of the meeting cites the example of IITs, where the board of governor has been authorized to give an extension of three years initially and another two years later to the faculty in order to enhance the retirement age.

"This is ridiculous. When will new people get a chance if we keep on promoting the old? There is enough talent, young graduates and post-graduates who are armed with knowhow about latest technology and research. They should be promoted ," said an AIIMS doctor.

