Venugopal dismissed for violating code of conduct

New Delhi, July 5 (UNI) AIIMS Director P Venugopal was today dismissed by the institute's Governing Body, headed by Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, for violating the code of conduct of the premier institute.

The decision came after a three-hour emergency meeting of the AIIMS Governing Body, presided over by Dr Ramadoss.

BJP leader V K Malhotra, a member of the Governing Body who attended the meeting, told reporters that most of the members opposed the move to dismiss Dr Venugopal.

''The issue was not listed in the main agenda but Dr Ramadoss brought a supplementary agenda to dismiss the AIIMS Director,'' he added.

''This is a draconian decision and even during the emergency, this did not happen,'' he said.

According to Mr Malhotra, the order to dismiss Dr Venugopal will come into force immediately but he will be given three months salary.

Although Dr Venugopal was present at the meeting initially, he was asked to leave when the supplementary agenda was tabled by the Health Minister.

''He was not even given a opportunity to explain his stand,'' the BJP leader added.

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