FAIMS & PGIMER Faculty Rise in Unity: Joint Hunger Protest from June 1 for Rotatory Headship Reform
New Delhi/Chandigarh, May 31:
In an unprecedented show of unity, the faculty associations of AIIMS New Delhi and PGIMER Chandigarh have announced a joint protest movement demanding the long-delayed implementation of rotatory headship and collegium-based leadership — systems aimed at bringing democratic and time-bound changes to the governance structure of India's premier medical institutions.
Despite a clear directive from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) issued in 2023, mandating implementation of rotatory headship by June 2024, the directive remains unimplemented, even after nearly a year.
This delay has sparked frustration among faculty members at both institutes.
After holding separate General Body Meetings — AIIMS on April 16 and PGIMER on April 17 — the associations unanimously resolved to initiate a protest campaign citing the ministry’s continued silence and lack of dialogue, despite several formal letters and requests for meetings with the Union Health Minister.
What’s the Demand?
At the heart of the protest is a demand for two interlinked governance reforms:
Rotatory Headship: A system where the post of department head rotates among senior faculty based on objective criteria (such as seniority and academic record) for a fixed term (usually 3–5 years).
This replaces the practice of permanent or prolonged headships, preventing monopolization of power and fostering shared leadership.
Collegium-based Leadership: A collective governance model where key decisions are made by a collegium or council of senior faculty members, instead of being concentrated in the hands of a single head.
This promotes transparency, accountability, and participatory administration.
Timeline of Protest
The associations have released a structured protest calendar:
May 1, 2025: Launch of a Black Badge protest, symbolizing faculty dissent across departments.
June 1, 2025: Start of a Relay Hunger Strike, with faculty members from both institutes participating in turns.
June 2, 2025 (Monday): A joint faculty gathering is planned at 1 PM outside the JLN Auditorium, AIIMS New Delhi, to mark the beginning of the hunger strike in full public view.
> “This is not just about headship. It’s about institutional democracy, fairness, and ensuring that power doesn’t stagnate in a few hands.” — a senior FAIMS member said.
The associations have appealed to all stakeholders — faculty, students, alumni, and the public — to stand with them in this "Hunger for Justice — Relay for Change" movement.
The joint statement, signed by the Faculty Association of AIIMS (FAIMS) and the PGIMER Faculty Association, underlines that the protest is being carried out in the spirit of constructive reform — not confrontation — and will continue until the Ministry commits to a time-bound implementation roadmap.
This is the first time in the history of these premier institutes that faculty from both AIIMS and PGIMER are joining hands in a coordinated strike, highlighting the urgency and seriousness of their demand for democratized leadership.
#RotatoryHeadshipNow
#FacultyForFairness
#DemocratizeMedicalInstitutions
#HungerForJustice
