SRINAGAR: Around 5,753 Dental Surgeons are registered as unemployed in Jammu and Kashmir, according to the Health and Medical Education Department, which has said recruitment is undertaken against sanctioned posts and in accordance with prescribed procedures and available vacancies.
The department made the disclosure in response to a starred Assembly question, AQ No. 01/6/336, tabled by MLA Shamim Firdous regarding the employment position of Dental Surgeons, vacancies at Government Dental College and Hospital, Srinagar, and infrastructure development at the institution.
The government, however, said the claim that no recruitment process or drive for Dental Surgeons had been undertaken since 2008 was not factually established. It said recruitment is carried out according to the sanctioned strength, prescribed recruitment procedure and availability of vacancies.
On the reported shortage at Government Dental College and Hospital, Srinagar, the department said no post of Dental Surgeon had been sanctioned specifically for the institution. It therefore rejected the premise that 48 posts were vacant against a sanctioned strength of 62.
The government also rejected the contention that infrastructure at the Srinagar dental college had not been upgraded since 2010. It said considerable development, expansion, renovation and upgradation had been undertaken since then in view of the institution’s academic, clinical and patient-care requirements.
Among the major projects undertaken since 2010 is the construction of a library block at a total estimated cost of Rs 478.84 lakh, against which Rs 474.83 lakh has been spent.
A fire-fighting system was installed at an estimated cost of Rs 281 lakh, with expenditure of Rs 253.45 lakh.
The construction of an additional block under Phase I and Phase II was taken up at estimated costs of Rs 734.71 lakh and Rs 419.85 lakh respectively. Expenditure on Phase I stood at Rs 678.21 lakh, while Rs 352.77 lakh had been spent on Phase II up to August 2026. The government said the Phase II work was in progress and was expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
An Effluent Treatment Plant was established at an estimated cost of Rs 164.05 lakh, with Rs 120.24 lakh spent. The upgradation of the Department of Prosthodontics was undertaken at an estimated cost of Rs 75 lakh, against which Rs 44.7 lakh had been spent.
The college also received a CCTV surveillance system at an estimated cost of Rs 185 lakh, with expenditure of Rs 143.97 lakh.
Addition, alteration and upgradation of the Administrative Block was taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 151.32 lakh, with Rs 74.97 lakh spent up to August 2026.
The department said these works were part of continuing efforts to strengthen and modernise the infrastructure of Government Dental College and Hospital, Srinagar and improve facilities for students, patients and staff.
On the demand for a special recruitment drive to employ Dental Surgeons and fill vacancies within a fixed timeframe, the government said the premise regarding 48 vacant posts at the Srinagar dental college was incorrect because no Dental Surgeon posts had been sanctioned specifically for the institution.
It said the requirement for Dental Surgeons in government health institutions is assessed periodically on the basis of sanctioned posts, existing vacancies, patient load, functional requirements and availability of infrastructure.
Whenever vacancies against sanctioned posts arise and are required to be filled, the posts are processed or referred to the competent recruiting authority in accordance with applicable recruitment rules and prescribed procedures.
The government said any recruitment drive, including a special recruitment drive, could be undertaken only against duly sanctioned posts or vacancies and after following the applicable rules and obtaining the required administrative approvals.
