The Jammu & Kashmir government clarified in the Legislative Assembly that the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura remains an autonomous institution, both as a tertiary care hospital and a deemed university, with no changes in its status following the reorganization of J&K.
Key points include:
- Autonomy Maintained: SKIMS Soura retains its autonomous status, continuing to grant degrees under the SKIMS (Grant of Degrees Act), 1983.
- Budgetary Continuity: Funding for SKIMS continues through grants from the Health Department, as before.
- No Change in Business Rules: The institution’s handling within the government’s business rules remains consistent, both pre- and post-reorganization.
- Recruitment Changes: Recruitment for gazetted and non-gazetted staff has been transferred to the Jammu & Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) and the Jammu & Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) respectively, to ensure transparency, timeliness, and merit-based selection.
- Medical Supplies: The Jammu & Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation’s services were introduced to SKIMS Soura due to perceived inefficiencies in its internal procurement processes.
- Lapsed Capital Expenditure: The government reported significant lapses in capital expenditure funds at SKIMS Soura:
- Rs 34.16 crore in 2021-22.
- Rs 21.72 crore in 2022-23.
- Rs 34.22 crore in 2023-24.
