480 Medical Officer Posts Referred for Recruitment
Jammu, Feb 12: The Government on Thursday informed the Legislative Assembly that two Medical Officers posted in Karnah constituency failed to join their duties and their appointments have been cancelled.
Replying to queries regarding staffing at SDH Tangdar in Karnah, the Health & Medical Education Department stated that Dr. Usma Rashid and Dr. Babar Mohammad, appointed as Medical Officers in 2024 and posted at NTPHC Hajinar and NTPHC Gundishort respectively, did not join their assigned postings. Consequently, their appointment orders were cancelled and their services terminated.
As per official records, the following doctors were posted in SDH Tangdar and other health institutions in Karnah during the last two years:
• Dr. Imtiyaz Ahmad Matoo, Consultant Surgeon, posted at Tangdar on 14.03.2024 (Voluntary Retirement w.e.f. 01.07.2024)
• Dr. Khalid Ayoom, Medical Officer, SDH Tangdar (joined 18.11.2024)
• Dr. Zahir Nazir, Medical Officer, Tangdar (joined 18.11.2024)
• Dr. Shoaib Shafqat Naqvi, Medical Officer, PHC Chitterkoot (joined Nov 2024; absent from duty since 14.05.2025)
• Dr. Shahpar Bakhtiar, Medical Officer, Tangdar (joined 06.05.2025)
• Dr. Mir Abdullah, Medical Officer, SDH Tangdar (joined 06.05.2025)
• Dr. Wasi Raf, Medical Officer, Tangdar (joined 05.09.2025)
To mitigate the shortage of medical staff in far-flung and border areas like Karnah, the department has:
• Referred 480 Medical Officer posts to the J&K Public Service Commission (JKPSC) for recruitment. Selected candidates will be posted in underserved areas including SDH Tangdar.
• Referred 292 paramedical vacancies (Family Welfare, MCH, Immunization) to JKSSB, which have already been advertised.
• Placed 802 non-gazetted MTS and Sanitation Worker posts under examination for further referral to JKSSB.
Regarding FMPHW and MMPHW staff, the Government stated that while NHM guidelines mandate posting against sanctioned positions, some staff were temporarily relocated on exceptional grounds such as:
• Spousal colocation
• Medical reasons
• Administrative exigencies
The department clarified that these adjustments were made without affecting service delivery and that most NHM staff posted in Karnah are currently in position.
The statement was issued under the authority of the Minister Incharge, Health & Medical Education Department.
