Palakkad : The UDF government in 2013 -14 made 272 appointments at Palakkad Medical College that falls under the Scheduled Caste Department. The eligibility condition then comprised recommendation letter from an MLA plus Rs 3 lakhs in cash. Posts ranging from nurse, paramedics and clerks to attenders were filled in this manner. The govt NGO by the name of Institute of Management in Government carried out the recruitments.
There was no advertisement on vacancies in ay of the mainstream newspapers. There were no interviews nor conformation to eligibility conditions either. As word got out on the out-of-the-way appointments, it snowballed into controversy and Oomen Chandy summoned Vigilance to look into the case.
In the investigations that ensued, Palakkad DySP came up on rampant irregularities in recruitments. 192 appointees were found lacking qualification and landing job purely on bribes they paid and their proximity to MLA, said Vigilance, whose report also recommended for all postings to be left to PSC. The UDF government however turned a blind eye to the report.
In 2016 when LDF came to power, the government dismissed the said 192 staff members except for doctors and left all vacancies to the PSC and the posts were eventually filled. With recruitments having happened without advertising vacancies, the Medical College lost its Indian Medical Council(IMC) recognition.
The Medical College that was started out without basic infrastructure, had just one building at first. The classes were conducted using facilities at District Medical College, a factor that compounded to loss of IMC recognition. Directions were issued to transfer all students to other medical colleges.
It was under the 1st Pinarayi govt that, Minister AK Balan met with the Union Health Minister GP Naddha, assuring setting of basic facilities and conducting proper appointment, thereby prompting the Central government to take favourable stance in the case at Supreme Court. This is how the medical college had its status restored.
