NEW DELHI: In a slap on the government's wrist, the Supreme Court struck down a law used to ease out noted cardio-surgeon P Venugopal as Director of the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS) here after a bitter row with Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss.
"We have struck down the Act. We have allowed the appeal," a bench of Justices Tarun Chatterjee and H S Bedi ruled on the petition filed by Venugopal challenging the impugned law as being malafide and brought to superannuate him.
Within hours of the court verdict, 66-year-old Venugopal "resumed" charge at AIIMS but he appeared to have jumped the gun in doing that as the Institute's Deputy Director Sailesh Kumar Yadav said he has not received any communication from the government about the cardio-surgeon's taking over as Director.
"Truth has prevailed", honesty respected, a triumphant Venugopal relaxed said adding fighting for AIIMS autonomy would be his "mission. It's a great day". Venugopal said Ramadoss wanted to clip the powers and undermine the autonomy of AIIMS.
"I have always served the institute and will continue to do so for the time given to me", he said in a brief statement signed as Director, AIIMS. Earlier, giving his initial reaction to the court verdict through a resident doctor, Venugopal said "the(court) decision has thwarted the game-plan carried out in Parliament". Venugopal's remaining tenure is less than two months.
It is due to end on July two. He had challenged an amendment to the AIIMS Act that fixed the upper age of retirement of Director at 65 years, a step that forced him to him relinquish office. Ramadoss and Venugopal were engaged in a turf war for the control of the reputed institute.
Seizing the opportunity to put the Government on the mat following the court verdict, the BJP demanded the resignation of the Health Minister. "If Ramadoss does not resign, Prime Minister Manmohan should dismiss him," party leader Sushma Swaraj told reporters.
Putting up a brave face, Ramadoss rejected calls for his resignation, saying Government's decision was passed by Parliament.
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