Uttar Pradesh Amends SGPGIMS Act to Specify Director's Tenure and Extension

The Uttar Pradesh Legislature recently enacted The Sanjay Gandhi Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (Amendment) Act, 2025 (U.P. Act no. 2 of 2025), which received the Governor's assent on March 17, 2025, and was subsequently published. This legislative instrument serves to amend the principal Sanjay Gandhi Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences Act, 1983, primarily by introducing explicit provisions concerning the tenure and service conditions of the Institute's Director. The enactment of this Act followed the promulgation of an Ordinance, necessitated by the immediate requirement for legislative action while the State Legislature was not in session.

The core of the amendment lies in the insertion of a new section, 12-A, into the 1983 Act. This new section precisely defines the term of office for the Director. Under the amended framework, the Director is to hold office for a period of five years from the date of assuming charge or until they attain the age of sixty-five years, whichever event occurs earlier. Furthermore, the Act introduces a provision for an additional tenure, allowing a Director who has not yet reached sixty-five years of age to be granted an extension not exceeding three years, at the discretion of the Visitor (an authority typically overseeing such institutions). The legislation also includes a mechanism for resignation, stipulating that a Director may resign by submitting a written notice to the Visitor, with the resignation becoming effective upon its acceptance. This Act is deemed to have come into force with retrospective effect from February 6, 2025, ensuring continuity from the period covered by the preceding Ordinance.

The legislative intent behind this amendment was to address a critical gap in the original Sanjay Gandhi Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences Act, 1983. The Statement of Objects and Reasons highlighted that while the 1983 Act provided for the establishment of the Institute to deliver high-quality medical education and training, it lacked specific provisions regarding the tenure, age limit, and potential extension of the Director's service. The role of the Director is considered paramount for the smooth and effective functioning of the Institute, which aims to provide adequately trained and high-quality doctors to the State and the Country. The absence of clear guidelines for this crucial position was identified as a limitation that needed immediate rectification. The legislation provided: “The Director shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office or until he attains the age of Sixty-five years, whichever is earlier;” This amendment, therefore, seeks to regularize and formalize the terms of service for the Director, thereby strengthening the administrative framework of the Institute. To facilitate this immediate change, the Sanjay Gandhi Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 (U.P. Ordinance no. 2 of 2025), was promulgated by the Governor on February 7, 2025. This Act now formally replaces and repeals that Ordinance, while ensuring that any actions taken under the provisions of the principal Act as amended by the Ordinance are deemed valid as if they were taken under the provisions of this new Act.

Keywords: Sanjay Gandhi Post-Graduate Institute, Medical Sciences, Amendment Act, Uttar Pradesh, Director Tenure, Ordinance, Medical Education, Lucknow Geo Tags: India, Uttar Pradesh District: Lucknow