Panaji, Feb 4 (TOI): The dean of Goa Medical College, Dr Pradeep Naik has admitted that there was a deficit of staff at the forensic medicine and toxicology department.

TOI had highlighted the staff crunch affecting the functioning of the department in December. Taking suo motu cognizance of the report, the Goa Human Rights Commission had issued show-cause notices to the dean and the medical superintendent of the GMC.

Naik admitted that the department was functioning at half its sanctioned strength. “There is a deficit of multi-tasking staff (MTS), but not acute so as to affect the department’s smooth functioning. The bodies in the morgue are preserved in hygienic condition till their final rites are performed,” he said.

The dean informed the commission that the administration has initiated steps to fill the vacancies and the recruitment process has reached the stage of reference to the department of personnel. “Procedure for revival of the lapsed posts is also under process,” he stated.

The sanctioned strength of MTS in the department was 19, including 13 vacancies for post-mortem attendants. Eight MTS were appointed, which includes five post-mortem attendants. Out of these five, one is under suspension. The remaining posts could not be filled as they had lapsed, he said.