Shillong, Oct 27: After seeing social media posts criticising political interference in appointments made at the 100-bedded hospital in Mawkyrwat, South West Khasi Hills district, Health Minister James Sangma said that the appointments were of temporary nature.

It’s only after the matter was brought to his attention, he called up the Director of Health Services (DHS) who clarified that the appointments were made on a temporary basis since those posts were of “essential services” nature.

The Health Minister said that the appointments were made for the sake of operationalising the 100 bedded hospital in Mawkyrwat.

“This has been done taking into consideration the essential nature of these jobs,” the Health Minister said.

The individuals who were appointed fits the criteria laid down and they do qualify for these posts.

Sangma said that the normal procedure for filling up of the various posts in the 100-bedded hospital has to be routed through the District Selection Committee (DSC).

He said that the fact that the DSC will need to take some time to do due diligence and to fill up the posts, therefore for the time being these have been filled up on “officiating” basis so that the services can be rendered.