Chandigarh, July 30 — More than 500 technical staff members at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) are still waiting for the implementation of a long-promised five-tier cadre restructure, which would entitle them to over ₹41 crore in pending arrears—some dating back more than three decades.
The cadre restructure was formally approved during the 118th meeting of PGIMER’s Institute Body on May 16, yet the plan remains on hold, frustrating laboratory, X-ray, and radiotherapy technicians who have been seeking promotions since 1994.
“We perform over 10,000 tests daily, yet many of us have retired without a single promotion,” said a senior technician. “It’s deeply demoralising.”
According to PGIMER estimates, the arrears total ₹41.3 crore: ₹33 crore for laboratory technicians, ₹6 crore for X-ray technicians, and ₹1 crore for radiotherapists. Many eligible staff members retired in the 1990s and early 2000s and are now in their 70s or 80s.
The new five-tier structure would allow employees—who currently retire at Level 3 as technical assistants—to progress through higher designations such as lab supervisor and senior technical officer.
In July, PGIMER formed a five-member committee to determine the exact number of current and retired staff eligible for promotion benefits under the new system. However, technical employees allege the panel has yet to produce any tangible results.
“We have not seen any outcome. The delay shows administrative apathy,” said Dr. R.K. Garg, former president of the PGI Medical Technologists Union. He added that institutions like AIIMS and JIPMER, Puducherry implemented the same cadre structure back in 2017, following a 2013 Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) judgment in favour of such restructuring.
The union has formally written to PGIMER Director Dr. Vivek Lal, urging immediate implementation of the May 16 decision. “This delay affects not only current staff but also those who have retired without receiving their rightful dues,” the letter stated.
Deputy Director of PGIMER, Pankaj Rai, confirmed that steps are being taken. “The committee has been constituted, and we are working to implement the five-tier cadre structure as soon as possible,” he said.
But for many employees, the wait has already been too long. “This restructure is not just about money—it’s about dignity, recognition, and career progression,” said a lab technician who has been with the institute since the early 1990s.
