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Current regulator Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi is set to superannuate on February 28 and the Union government was planning to extend his tenure as the search for a new candidate continues
Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi is set to superannuate on February 28. (File pic/News18)
Medical professionals have written to the top officials at the department of personnel and training, raising concerns over the re-employment of the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), citing the department’s own notification that prohibits government service beyond the age of superannuation.
Not only DoPT’s notifications, but two government sources privy to the development told News18 that various concerns are being raised using the latest message given by vice-president Jagdeep Dhankhar against the culture of “extension.”
News18 first reported in January that the Union government is planning to extend the tenure of the current DCGI as the search for a new candidate continues. The current regulator, Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, is set to superannuate on February 28.
In a memorandum titled “Re-employment of Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi as Drugs Controller (India), Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) on contract basis”, the health ministry has requested “considerable time” to “thoroughly scrutinise” the applications to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on January 17.
However, one of the two sources quoted above has told News18 that the move (of giving an extension) could be re-considered due to an influx of e-mails to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) — the main body which is responsible for approving the extension of DCGI and selection of the new officer.
“We have received several e-mails from industry and healthcare professionals stating that the move is in direct contravention of the notification issued by the department of personnel and training in December 2022,” said the first officer, requesting anonymity. “DCGI is a statutory post under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Hence, the contractual position can be challenged legally, impacting the reputation of the apex body.”
According to the DoPT’s circular dated December 1, released by the ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions — under the paragraph of re-employment — “No proposal for employing a government servant beyond the age of superannuation of 60 years shall be considered”.
“It is also clarified that no person can be appointed/reappointed to Central Government service after the age of superannuation of 60 years through contract,” the circular said.
The second source told News18 that “the e-mails and complaints also highlight the stance of Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar which is against the culture of extensions in public service”.
Dhankhar, while delivering the inaugural address at the 25th National Conference of Chairpersons of All State Public Service Commission on January 11, said “extensions in service, extensions in any form for a particular post are a setback to those who are in line”.
Dhankhar added that extension defies the logical principle of expectation. “We have a doctrine of expectation. People devote decades to be in a particular groove. Extension indicates that some individual is indispensable. Indispensability is a myth. Talent abounds in this country. No one is indispensable. And therefore, it lies in the domain of public service commissions at the state and the central level that when they have a role in such kinds of situations, they must be firm.”
DCGI is the head of the country’s apex health regulatory body, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), which is responsible for the regulation, manufacturing, sales, export and import of all medicines, cosmetics, vaccines and medical devices in India.
News18 has seen three e-mails sent to the government department marked to multiple officials of different ministries. Also, News18 has sent an email seeking clarity over the re-employment of DCGI to secretary, ministry of personnel, public grievances and pension (MoP), and press information bureaus of Union health ministry and MoP. No response was received till the time of publishing this report.
Why re-employment?
Raghuvanshi took charge as DCGI on February 23, 2023. He was also assigned the additional charge of the post of secretary-cum-scientific director of the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC).
To fill up the chair after Raghuvanshi’s retirement, the post for DCGI was advertised in August 2024. However, due to insufficient response, the last date for submission of applications was extended to November 23.
Despite the considerably long application period, a total of 18 applications have been received in response to the advertisements.
“These applications are being scrutinised. Thereafter, a proposal will be submitted to UPSC for the selection of a suitable candidate for the post. The entire process is likely to take considerable time,” the health ministry wrote in an office memorandum sent to the ACC.
