Hyderabad: Telangana high court has permitted four diploma in medical imaging technician (DMIT) candidates to participate in an ongoing recruitment process at the Telangana Institute of Medical Sciences (TIMS), while directing authorities not to declare their results until further orders.Justice K Sarath passed the interim order while hearing a writ petition filed by four DMIT-qualified candidates challenging a recruitment notification issued by TIMS on June 22 for the posts of X-ray/C-arm technician grade II, CT technician grade II and MRI technician.Appearing for the petitioners, counsel Chikkudu Prabhakar argued that the candidates were eligible for the posts, which carry qualifications prescribed for technical positions under the director of medical education (DME).He contended that TIMS functions under the administrative control of the DME and, therefore, could not alter the prescribed eligibility criteria by excluding DMIT-qualified candidates from the recruitment process.Prabhakar also informed the court that July 6 was the last date for submitting applications and sought directions permitting the petitioners to apply for the posts.Opposing the plea, the state govt and counsel representing Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), which is overseeing the operationalisation of TIMS, argued that the institute functions under the administrative framework and institutional expertise of NIMS. They contended that a 2018 govt order relied upon by the petitioners was not applicable to the present recruitment exercise.The respondents further submitted that, as an autonomous tertiary healthcare institution, TIMS was entitled to prescribe higher recruitment standards and sought time to file detailed counters.After hearing both sides, Justice Sarath directed the authorities to receive the petitioners’ applications on or before July 13 and allow them to participate in the selection process. However, the court made it clear that the petitioners’ results should not be announced until further orders in the case.
