Ramadoss snubbed: SC strikes down AIIMS Act amendment

VICTORY FOR VENUGOPAL: Venugopal and Ramadoss had been at loggerheads when the OBC quota row gained strength.

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Doctors hope the PMO will pick the new director and not the Health Minister.

• AIIMS faculty for no Ramadoss nominee as director
• There is no question of my resignation: Ramadoss
• Samajwadi Party gives support letter to President
• Discussions over N-deal hit cyberspace

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• Venugopal quits, docs hope PMO names AIIMS director
• AIIMS faculty for no Ramadoss nominee as director
• There is no question of my resignation: Ramadoss
• Samajwadi Party gives support letter to President
• Discussions over N-deal hit cyberspace

Keywords: Anbumani Ramadoss, P Venugopal

New Delhi: It could be seen as a victory of sorts for former All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) director P Venugopal. The Supreme Court has struck down the AIIMS Amendment Act 2007 that fixed the institute directors' retirement age at 65.

Venugopal had challenged the Bill in court saying it was introduced by the Government specifically with the intention of removing him from the post.

The 66-year-old eminent cardiac surgeon was removed from his post in November last year after Parliament passed the AIIMS Amendment Bill.

The passage of the controversial AIIMS Bill in Parliament had also angered a sizable section of doctors at the premier institute. The protesting doctors had gone on a flash strike, suspending OPD services and declaring that they would not give treatment to the politicians who backed the legislation.

Venugopal and Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss had been at loggerheads when the OBC quota row gained strength on the AIIMS campus.

Later, the Health Minister sacked Venugopal for indiscipline, but the director survived by getting a stay from the Delhi High Court.

In December last year, the Supreme Court had issued a notice to the Centre on a petition filed by Venugopal challenging the controversial law fixing 65 years as the age limit for the post of AIIMS director.

The apex court had then termed the removal of Venugopal as unfortunate.

The Bench had also made it clear that on the facts of the case the apex court was with Venugopal and had asked the Government: "Why are you humiliating a senior and renowned doctor like Venugopal?"

The Opposition BJP had also attacked the Government for 'pushing through' the Bill and had dubbed the exercise as a form of 'dictatorship'.

WHAT WENT WRONG

July 3, 2003: Dr P Venugopal appointed to the post of the AIIMS Director for a five-year term, which was to end on July 3, 2008.

June 2006: The controversy began with Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss accusing Venugopal of defying orders and supporting the anti-OBC reservation agitation and secretly approving discrimination against OBC and SC/ST students in AIIMS.

November 28, 2007: Parliament passed the AIIMS Amendment Bill 2007 fixing the AIIMS director’s maximum age at 65 years.

November 29, 2007: P Venugopal was sacked from the post of the AIIMS Director. Venugopal then moves SC challenging the AIIMS Amendment Bill 2007.

May 8, 2008: SC strikes down AIIMS Amendment Act 2007.