Centre challenges single bench order on stay

New Delhi, July 24 (UNI) The Centre today challenged the single bench order of the Delhi High Court granting stay of the termination of the services of AIIMS Director Dr P Venugopal from his post.

The matter will come up for hearing tomorrow before the bench comprising acting Chief Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Kailash Gambhir.

The petition said the central government was empowered to sack the Director of AIIMS without even serving a notice.

It is alleged that he supported the anti-reservation activists during the 17-day nation-wide agitation.

The Director allowed the activists to use the premises to carry out the agitation, said the petition filed by the Government counsel.

The petition said the stay was granted on erroneous grounds without even taking into consideration the facts.

The Single Judge's action was "preposterous" as no order was passed terminating the services of Dr Venugopal.

Justice Anil Kumar on July 7 stayed the move to terminate the job of Dr Venugopal on the ground that the intended action was "vitiated in law" and devoid of the principles of natural justice.

Granting the stay on Dr Venugopal's petition challenging the recommendation by AIIMS apex body headed by Union Health Minister Ramadoss to dismiss him, Justice Anil Kumar directed the Centre and the AIIMS to file their replies within two weeks on the matter.

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