Department of Surgery started functioning with 42 beds, an operation theatre (OT) and a surgical outpatient with a minor OT. Col W Selby was the first Head of Department. The staff at that time consisted of only 1 professor and a lecturer. A post of reader was added in 1933 and that of a professor in clinical surgery in 1948. The Department was the first in north India to perform open heart surgery, neurosurgery, spinal surgery and plastic surgery. It provides the major reception to surgical emergencies including medico-legal cases. The department organises surgical teaching and training of MBBS, BDS, MS and PhD students.