Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP) has appointed five assistant professors on contract basis after receiving a nod from Union ministry of health and family welfare and Directorate General of Health Services.

While three assistant professors have been appointed for clinical psychology, two have been roped in for psychiatric social work. An associate professor will be taken for clinical psychology.

The appointments can be seen as a victory of sorts for the MPhil students, who had staged massive protests on the campus against teacher crunch in August. They had also conveyed their grievances to C.K. Mishra, additional secretary of the Union health ministry, during the latter’s visit to CIP.

In 2009, Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) had disapproved the cradle’s MPhil programmes in clinical psychology and psychiatric social work on grounds of inadequate faculty. The apex body had also de-recognised the PhD programme in clinical psychology.

Prior to the appointments, the clinical psychology department had one assistant professor, one clinical psychologist, two assistant psychologists and one lab assistant. Psychiatric social work managed with two assistant professors, one senior and one junior psychiatric social worker.

With the new appointments, the authorities have again forwarded a request to RCI for fresh recognition.

“We are hopeful about getting the RCI approval soon,” said CIP director Daya Ram, adding that the institute was trying its best to run the courses with full faculty strength as recommended by the RCI.