AIIMS RDA demands Ramadoss resignation

New Delhi, July 17: Describing the Supreme Court direction to the Centre on salaries, as ''the victory of their cause'' AIIMS Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) today said Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss must resign on moral grounds and save the UPA government from ''repeated embarrassment''.

''The court direction has rejuvenated our trust in the judiciary.... This is the victory of our cause for which we were fighting,'' AIIMS RDA President Binod Patra told UNI.

He said the Government has been censured for applying ''no work, no pay'' in this principle.

Dr Patra said the Health Minister should resign on moral ground and even the Cabinet should recommend it.

''One arrogant minister is the caused a lot of embarrassment to the Government.... Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has to face the people of the country and for that Dr Ramadoss should resign,'' he added.

The Supreme Court today directed the Government to pay salary to doctors, who went on anti quota strike, till May 30, 2006 and not till June 3.

AIIMS doctors and medical students had boycotted work for almost 17 days since May 13 protesting the Government proposal to introduce 27.5 per cent reservation for OBCs in elite educational institutes.

The court also censured the government for applying the principle of 'no work, no pay' despite the assurance that no punitive action will be taken against the doctors.

UNI