Faculty Members Wear Black Badges Across Punjab Government Medical and Dental Colleges
Doctors and faculty members at government medical and dental colleges across Punjab launched a symbolic protest on Thursday against the state government over delays in implementing time-bound re-designation and promotions for teaching staff.
As part of the protest, faculty members reported to work wearing black badges while continuing their routine academic and healthcare duties.
The protest has been organised by the Punjab State Medical and Dental Teachers’ Association, which warned that the agitation could intensify if the government fails to address the long-pending issue.
Doctors Demand Time-Bound Promotions in Punjab Medical Colleges
Speaking on the matter, Dr Jaspreet Singh, President of the association and professor at Government Medical College Amritsar, said faculty members in Punjab government medical colleges are being denied benefits that are already available in several other sectors and states.
Explaining the promotion structure, he said an assistant professor is generally redesignated as an associate professor after four years and promoted to professor after another three years of service.
“In seven years, an assistant professor can become a professor. In some institutions, this system is implemented with financial benefits, while in others it is done without financial benefits. However, faculty members at Government Medical Colleges in Patiala and Amritsar are still deprived of these benefits,” he stated.
Faculty Allege Career Stagnation Despite Years of Service
General Secretary of the association, Dr Darshanjit Singh Walia, professor at Government Medical College Patiala, said repeated meetings, representations, and assurances from authorities have failed to produce any concrete outcome.
According to faculty members, the prolonged delay has led to increasing dissatisfaction among teachers working in government medical and dental institutions across the state.
Dr Walia stated that most government employees in Punjab, including engineers, teachers, and even doctors in certain private institutions, receive time-bound promotions, while faculty members in state-run medical colleges continue to face delays.
“Many doctors have remained assistant professors for more than 15 years without promotion. Even states like Rajasthan follow a proper time-bound promotion policy,” he added.
Association Warns of Phased Agitation
In a press release, the association said that despite repeated assurances from the government, no meaningful action has been taken to resolve the issue.
The association further announced that it has decided to initiate a phased protest programme if the Punjab government fails to take immediate corrective measures.
“On May 14, 2026, all faculty members protested against the inaction on their demand for time-bound re-designation and promotions by wearing black badges during work,” the statement noted.
Doctors Seek Dialogue to Avoid Escalation
The association has appealed to the Punjab government to initiate meaningful discussions at the earliest to prevent escalation of the protest and ensure the smooth functioning of medical education and healthcare services in the state.
Faculty members warned that continued delays could impact morale within government medical and dental colleges and further deepen dissatisfaction among teaching staff.
