Sambalpur Press Club Monday unanimously resolved to not abide by VIMSAR director Prof Ashwini Pujhary’s order to restrict the entry of media persons in the institute’s campus. As per a directive of Prof Pujhary, scribes have to first obtain permission from the authority before entering VIMSAR campus vide his office letter no 139/VIMSAR dated 19.08.2017.

A 25-member delegation from the Sambalpur Press Club Monday met Prof Pujhary and handed over a resolution to him in this regard. Speaking to the delegation, he said, “There is nothing new in his instruction as it is in keeping with the government’s guidelines. I followed the guidelines and issued the instruction. From now on, a designated spokesperson of VIMSAR would talk to media on any issue.”

Sources from VIMSAR said the director had to issue the instruction under pressure from the health minister. The conflict between the resident doctors and the director earlier this month is yet to be fully resolved. The former had reportedly prevailed upon the health minister to settle their score against the director, who won the earlier bout with immense support from the people.

The same source added the director feels suffocated in the evolving circumstances and may be compelled to resign. It would be futile to fight the cause to develop VIMSAR without any support from the state government. There is no point to appoint a director here, if the government desires to run it as per the whims of the resident doctors.

The resident doctors are afraid of the director as the latter showed determination to cleanse the entire system at VIMSAR. Some of the resident doctors apprehend that they may not be able to pass their examinations as the director may not leave any space to adopt unfair means. They have used their political links in the state government to prevail upon the health minister and the result is everywhere to see, the source said on the condition of anonymity.