Ad-hocism in the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has come a full circle with the appointment of Professor Kusum Verma as the acting Dean (Academics). The ad-hoc appointees have been holding other key posts, including that of Deputy-Director (Administration), for several months.

Union Health Minister Dr A Ramadoss has not yet approved the Institute's decision. In order to become the full-fledged Dean (Academics), the approval of the Union Health Minister, who also happens to be the Institute's president, is mandatory.

Prof Verma was made the acting Dean about a month ago, after Prof HK Tiwari retired. "The Minister's non-approval to Prof Verma's appointment has come as a silver lining behind the cloud hovering over the Institute. After all, the established norms cannot be violated indefinitely. A line of restraint has to be drawn," a senior faculty member said.

Dr Verma has been picked up for the job by overlooking the claim of Dr V Kochupillai and Dr RL Bijlani, a Professor of Physiology. The duo are senior to Prof Verma. "As per the established norms, the senior-most professor has to be appointed as the Dean (Academics). Over the years, these norms have been put on the back-burner," he added.

"Ad-hocism at the top level is eating into the vitals of the country's apex medical institute for research and education. From Deputy Director, Administration, (DDA), Medical Superintendent (MS), to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), all are officiating against the key posts," an official of Faculty Association of AIIMS (FAIIMS) said. The AIIMS' Director Prof P Vengopal too has crossed the age of superannuation.

The post of the DDA has been lying vacant ever since N Baijendra Kumar was removed in February 2004. The senior finance adviser, Mayank Sharma, is officiating as the DDA. Mr Sharma is an officer of Indian Defence Accounts Services (IDAS) cadre with no administrative experience. "He has been thrust upon the Institute to do a job that he cannot do. He is loaded with financial responsibilities," a senior faculty member said.

The Institute's annual budget is of Rs 280 crore. At the same time, it has various development projects involving a lot of money. "The Institute can't afford the senior FA sailing on two important boats at one time," he added. Since 1999, Attar Singh has been officiating as the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), an open post. He was made to succeed Sheela Rani Khilnani, though "he wasn't fulfiling eligibility criteria." In administrative hierarchy, the CAO comes only next to the DDA.

Dr RK Sarma has been acting as the MS since Dr RC Anand was suspended for allegedly accepting a gratification of Rs 10,000 about four and a half years back. "Ad-hocism at top level has only given fillip only to corruption at different levels," an official said.

Over the years, the Institute has grown manifold. In 1996, the AIIMS had only 97 faculty members against the present figure of about 500. The out-door patient attendance (OPD) was 3,39,961. Now, it has crossed 20 lakh mark. "Given the Institute's growth over the years, the administration needs to be streamlined at all levels," a senior faculty member said.

Referring to Dr Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, the doctor pleading anonymity said: "The Centre has been without Medical Superintendent (MS) ever since it was created about 10 years. It is being run through ad-hoc arrangement. All this goes against the basic spirit of the Institute."