SC to Decide: Should HoD Appointments in Medical Colleges Be Seniority-Based or Rotational?

The Supreme Court of India is set to deliberate on a contentious issue that has sparked debate across medical institutions nationwide: Should Heads of Departments (HoDs) in medical colleges be appointed based on seniority or through a rotational system? The case stems from a challenge to Karnataka High Court rulings regarding HoD appointments at the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Hubballi.

The NMC’s Teachers Eligibility Qualification Regulations, 2022, mandate seniority-based appointments for administrative posts like HoDs. However, KIMS introduced bylaws enforcing a rotational system with fixed tenures, aiming to foster diverse leadership perspectives. This sparked legal battles, with opposing judgments from the High Court’s single and division benches on whether HoDs are administrative or primarily academic positions.

The petitioners argue that HoD roles include substantial administrative duties and that the rotational system undermines efficiency, hierarchy, and statutory regulations. Conversely, proponents of the rotation system emphasize its potential to promote innovation and collaborative leadership.

With nationwide implications for medical education and institutional governance, the Supreme Court has also included the National Medical Commission (NMC) in the case, as the regulatory body’s stance will play a crucial role in shaping the court’s decision. A verdict is expected to clarify the legal precedence between statutory regulations and institutional bylaws while addressing broader concerns over academic and administrative leadership in medical institutions.