Srinagar, Mar 23(KNS): Jammu & Kashmir’s government has reiterated that Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura remains an autonomous institution, with no changes in its status before or after the reorganization of J&K.
The government also revealed that capital expenditure funds amounting to Rs 90 crore lapsed over the past three financial years.
Responding to a query from MLA Tangmarg Farooq Ahmad Shah, Minister for Health and Medical Education Sakina Masood Ittoo informed the Legislative Assembly that SKIMS continues to function as both a tertiary care hospital and a deemed university. It grants degrees under the SKIMS (Grant of Degrees Act), 1983, and its budget allocation remains under the Health Department.
The government emphasized that there has been no modification in business rules concerning SKIMS. According to the First Schedule of Government Business Rules, SKIMS was originally assigned to the Health and Medical Education Department, and this structure was retained post-reorganization through the Transaction of Business Rules-2019 issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Regarding recruitment, the government stated that SKIMS had accumulated vacancies over the years. To enhance transparency and efficiency in the hiring and promotion processes, recruitment responsibilities were transferred to the Jammu & Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) and Jammu & Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB).
Additionally, the government extended the services of the Jammu & Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation to SKIMS due to inefficiencies in its internal procurement system.
The financial report highlighted that ?34.16 crore lapsed in 2021-22, ?21.72 crore in 2022-23, and ?34.22 crore in 2023-24, raising concerns about fund utilization at the premier medical institution. (KNS)