PIL was inspired by the government: Prof Venugopal

New Delhi, Aug 2 (UNI) AIIMS Director P Venugopal today submitted before the Delhi High Court that the PIL against his appointment was motivated and inspired by the government to remove him from the premier institution.

Appearing before a division bench of Justice Mukundakam Sharma and Justice J M Malik, Senior Counsel Arun Jaitley said, ''It is a government-inspired petition to remove eminent cardiac surgeon Dr Venugopal from the AIIMS.'' For the first time during the hearing of the PIL filed by Centre for Public Interest Litigation(CPIL), there was dissenting voice among the respondents--Union Health Ministry, AIIMS and Prof Venugopal.

Mr Jaitley said he would file a reply to the petition only after the Centre submitted its affidavit.

Counsel Prashant Bhushan appearing for the CPIL said the case was being unnecessarily being dragged and the respondents did not file their replies in the intervening three months.

Citing the Supreme Court judgement in relation to Dr S K Kakkar, the former Director of AIIMS, Mr Bhushan said the Apex Court had made it clear that it was against the public interest to hold two posts in the premier institution.

The Court adjourned the matter till October 2006, directing the Union Health Ministry and AIIMS to file their replies in two weeks, Dr Venugopal in another two weeks and rejoinder in another two weeks.

However, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Gopal Subramanium appearing for the Government on May 15, had justified the appointment of Professor Venugopal as the Director of the AIIMS and his holding the post of head of Cardiac Thorasic department beyond the age of superannuation.

Mr Bhushan had argued that the Union of India and AIIMS had illegally appointed Prof Venugopal to the dual post for five year.

Prof Venugopal, who is now 64-year-old, should have been superannuated two years back at the age of 62.

UNI PAT SHB KN1911