SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has tightened the procedure for in-service doctors seeking higher studies and tenure postings, warning of disciplinary action, including loss of appointment, against those who participate in selection processes or join courses without prior permission from the Administrative Department.
The government has also prescribed stringent penalties for doctors who abandon higher study or training courses midway, including withholding of two increments, a penalty of Rs 2 lakh, recovery of the entire amount paid to them during the course and a five-year ban from future government-sponsored educational programmes and training courses.
The provisions have been outlined in Circular No. 07-JK(HME) of 2026, issued by the Health and Medical Education Department on November 12, inviting applications from eligible officers of the J&K Health and Family Welfare (Gazetted) Service for higher studies and tenure postings during the calendar year 2027.
Under the prescribed eligibility conditions, doctors seeking admission to higher study courses within or outside Jammu and Kashmir must have completed five years of government service as on January 1, 2027. They must also be pursuing such a course for the first time during their service.
For tenure postings, including Senior Residency, Junior Residency, Registrarship, Demonstratorship, Fellowship and Tutorship, doctors must have completed the prescribed probation period or three years of service, whichever is later, as on January 1, 2027. The first-time condition also applies to such applicants.
The department has made a two-year cooling-off period mandatory for doctors returning from previous study leave or tenure postings. Such doctors must serve in the department for two years before becoming eligible to apply again.
The circular further stipulates that only doctors up to the age of 42 years will be eligible for tenure postings. Those seeking higher studies must have at least three years of government service remaining after completion of their courses. Doctors with less than three years of service remaining after the course will not be eligible for an NOC.
Application deadline November 20
The department has fixed November 20, 2026, as the deadline for submission of applications. Eligible doctors must apply in the prescribed format, duly authenticated by their respective Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs), and route their applications through the Directorates of Health Services, Jammu or Kashmir.
Applications received after the cut-off date will not be entertained for the 2027 calendar year.
Applicants are also required to submit an undertaking authenticated by a First Class Judicial Magistrate, confirming that they have read the applicable policy guidelines and will abide by the terms and conditions issued by the department from time to time.
The concerned Directorates of Health Services will verify the particulars and eligibility of each applicant and forward consolidated lists to the Administrative Department by December 1, 2026. The government has clarified that applications forwarded or recommended by any office other than the respective Directorates of Health Services will not be processed.
Scrutiny of service records and conduct
The circular places responsibility on the concerned Heads of Departments to verify the service records and conduct of applicants before forwarding their cases.
They must furnish specific certificates regarding work and conduct, integrity, pending departmental inquiries, pending court cases and punctuality during the doctors’ past service, including any unsettled period.
The Directors of Health Services, Jammu and Kashmir, have also been directed to verify whether the proposed courses and training programmes are recognised and whether applicants fulfil the prescribed eligibility conditions.
The scrutiny will cover their probation or confirmation status, length of service, previous study leave, required bonds under the Study Leave Rules, and whether the proposed course is genuine and would be of definite advantage to the department.
The authorities must also assess whether the proposed studies or training are consistent with the exigencies of public service and whether appropriate arrangements can be made to manage the doctors’ duties during their absence.
The circular directs the Directors of Health Services to ensure that healthcare facilities do not suffer because of doctors proceeding for higher studies or training. Suitable internal alternative arrangements must be made to look after their responsibilities.
The department has further instructed the Directors of Health Services to ensure strict compliance with the conditions laid down in Government Order No. 164-HME of 2012, dated March 2, 2012.
NOC not permission to leave present posting
The government has specifically clarified that applying for an NOC does not give an applicant any preferential right to be relieved from their present posting or join the intended course or training programme.
Even after obtaining an NOC, permission to leave the place of posting and join the course will be considered separately, only after the doctor’s selection, in accordance with the applicable norms and recommendations of the departmental committee.
Doctors who leave their place of posting without authorisation or participate in selection processes for higher studies and tenure postings without obtaining the required NOC and prior permission from the Administrative Department will be liable to disciplinary proceedings without further notice, including loss of appointment.
The circular also directs the concerned controlling officers to immediately refer cases of unauthorised pursuit of courses by doctors to the Administrative Department. Failure to do so will make the concerned controlling officers responsible.
Institutions directed to enforce restrictions
The Director, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, Principal, SKIMS Medical College, Bemina, and principals of all Government Medical and Dental Colleges and ASCOMS Jammu have been directed to ensure that in-service doctors are allowed to participate in selection processes only after the Administrative Department has issued both an NOC and permission to join the course.
They have also been asked to obtain undertakings from the concerned doctors, duly authenticated by a First Class Judicial Magistrate.
The circular includes prescribed formats for applications by doctors, eligibility certification by the Directors of Health Services and consolidated lists of eligible candidates.
The application proforma requires details including the doctor’s name, addresses, initial appointment, present designation, place of posting, date of birth, appointment and promotion details, pay scale, proposed course, its duration and confirmation from the concerned university, college or institution.
It also requires an undertaking that acquiring higher or additional qualifications will not give the doctor any superior claim over senior colleagues for consideration of promotion.
The eligibility certification proforma requires the Directors of Health Services to verify the recognition of the proposed course, date of commencement, service status, previous study leave, required bonds, pending or contemplated inquiries and arrangements for managing the doctor’s duties.
The consolidated lists must separately identify applicants seeking higher study or fellowship courses and those applying for tenure postings, along with their service particulars, qualifications, age, eligibility and institutional details.
