Jharkhand’s health department has initiated proceedings to terminate the services of 631 government doctors who either did not join after appointment or remained absent from duty for prolonged periods, a move that could open vacant posts for fresh recruitment through the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC).
The doctors were appointed through JPSC between 1988 and 2023. Their cases emerged during a review of the department’s seniority records and district-wise service reports, officials said. The review identified 695 doctors whose service status required examination.
Of the total, 631 doctors have been asked to submit proof that they are in service within 15 days. The department has sought explanations from the remaining 64 doctors for allegedly remaining absent without authorisation. Officials said further action, including termination, would be taken against those who fail to provide satisfactory explanations or valid documents.
The largest number of cases is linked to the 2009 recruitment batch, involving 308 doctors who were found to be absent or not to have reported for duty after appointment. The department has not stated in the supplied report how many of the identified doctors were posted in rural areas or how many positions are currently affecting the functioning of specific hospitals and health centres.
The proposed action will require administrative approvals, including the consent of JPSC and the state cabinet, according to officials. Once posts are formally vacated, the health department plans to seek fresh recruitment through JPSC. The exercise is intended to identify vacancies and improve the availability of doctors in government hospitals and health centres, particularly in rural areas.
Health minister Irfan Ansari said action would be taken according to service rules. “Failure to join duty after appointment or remaining absent without valid reasons is a serious matter,” he said, adding that ensuring adequate doctor availability in state-run hospitals was the government’s priority.
The proceedings also highlight an administrative gap between recruitment and actual deployment. A doctor’s appointment does not automatically translate into a filled position at a functioning health facility if the appointee does not join or remains away from duty. Until such posts are formally reviewed and vacated, they can remain unavailable for fresh recruitment even though hospitals and health centres continue to report staffing needs.
The department has taken similar action previously. In 2025, the services of 86 medical officers and 57 specialist doctors appointed through JPSC were terminated after they failed to join duty. The latest exercise is larger and covers appointments made over several decades, making the verification process important for determining which posts can be legally and administratively reopened.
The immediate next step is for the 631 doctors to submit service proof within the department’s 15-day deadline, while the 64 doctors asked to explain their absence respond to the notices. Any termination and subsequent recruitment will follow the required approvals from the concerned authorities.
