Varanasi: Thirty-nine employees of the Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS), Banaras Hindu University (BHU), who were promoted as senior nursing officers earlier this year, have been reverted to the post of nursing officer following the issuance of a revised promotion list after objections over the implementation of reservation rules. The affected employees have alleged that they were demoted without any valid reason and have sought a review of the decision.The original promotion list, issued by the Registrar’s Office on Jan 3, promoted 195 nursing officers working at Sir Sunderlal Hospital and the Trauma Centre to the post of senior nursing officer.Subsequently, some nursing officers approached the SC/ST Commission, alleging that reservation norms had not been followed in the promotion process. Acting on the complaint, the commission directed the university to ensure compliance with reservation-related rules.Following the commission’s directions, the university convened another meeting of the promotion committee on May 27. Based on its recommendations, a revised promotion list was recently issued, under which the promotions of 39 nursing officers from the general and OBC categories were cancelled and they were reverted to their previous posts.The affected employees alleged that the revised order violated the Govt of India’s department of personnel and training (DoPT) guidelines and the statutory reservation roster. They have demanded that the implementation of the revised promotion list be stayed until the entire process is reviewed by a high-level, impartial committee.IMS director Prof SN Sankhwar said the promotion process was carried out in accordance with university rules. He said that if representations are received from the affected nursing officers, the matter will be examined in consultation with the medical superintendent and appropriate action will be taken as per the rules.
