The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Saturday informed the Legislative Assembly that the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura continues to function as an autonomous institution, with no changes made to its status in the pre- and post-reorganisation business rules of the J&K Government.
The government further acknowledged that capital expenditure funds amounting to between Rs 21 crore and Rs 34 crore lapsed at SKIMS Soura over the last three financial years.
In response to a query from MLA Tangmarg Farooq Ahmad Shah, Minister in-charge of Health and Medical Education, Sakina Masood Ittoo, confirmed that SKIMS retains its autonomous status.
“Established in 1976, SKIMS Soura continues to operate as an autonomous institution, serving both as a tertiary care hospital and a deemed university. It grants degrees under the SKIMS (Grant of Degrees Act), 1983. Budget allocations for SKIMS remain within the Health Department’s grants, as before,” the minister said.
The government emphasised that there have been no changes in J&K’s business rules concerning SKIMS.
“As per the First Schedule of the Government Business Rules of the erstwhile State of J&K, SKIMS was assigned to the Health and Medical Education Department. This arrangement has remained unchanged under the Transaction of Business Rules-2019, issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs through notification GSR-534(e) on 27th August 2020,” the government explained.
The government also stated that the recruitment of gazetted and non-gazetted staff at SKIMS Soura had been transferred to the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) and the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) to enhance transparency and expedite the process.
“To ensure patient care and facilitate transparent, time-bound, and merit-based recruitment, the expertise of JKPSC and JKSSB has been engaged for the recruitment of both faculty and non-gazetted posts,” the minister said.
She further described JKPSC as a constitutional body and JKSSB as a specialised recruitment agency known for its efficiency and transparency.
Highlighting the institution’s procurement challenges, the government said that the Jammu and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation had extended its services to SKIMS Soura, replacing its sluggish internal purchasing mechanism.
It also revealed that substantial capital expenditure funds lapsed in the past three fiscal years: Rs 34.16 crore in 2021-22, Rs 21.72 crore in 2022-23, and Rs 34.22 crore in 2023-24. (KNO)
