JIPMER told to look at pleas of dismissed staff

Chennai, Oct 9 (UNI) Madras High Court today directed the JIPMER management to consider the representations of employees dismissed from service for going on strike and pass appropriate orders.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice A P Shah and Mr Justice K Chandru gave the directive while posting to October 16, further hearing of the petition filed by AIADMK Pondicherry Unit Secretary K Anbalagan, challenging the proposed autonomy for JIPMER.

Meanwhile, the Union Government and JIPMER filed a common counter affidavit, seeking dismissal of the petition.

In the counter, JIPMER Director K S V K Subbarao said the main aim was to make it an institute of national importance with statutory status, to enable it grow and serve the people of Pondicherry and neighbouring places. It would free JIPMER from rules and regulations of the Medical Council of India and University, so that it could develop its own curriculum, start new courses, award degrees, make education inter-linked with services and provide quality treatment.

JIPMER, despite its 40 year existence, did not have established super-speciality departments, he said, adding, corresponding trained manpower was needed for providing these services. To provide necessary impetus to JIPMER for its growth, it was proposed to confer statutory status through an Act of Parliament, Dr Subbarao added.

He contended that by no stretch of imagination, it could be said that any change of status with reference to this institution could be termed a violation of the Transfer Treaty between France and India. Even after the Act of Parliament, JIPMER would continue to be under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

JIPMER's financial affairs now and after the eventual declaration would continue to be subjected to statutory audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General. As and when the draft bill was introduced in Parliament, discussions could be held.

UNI XR AA VD HS1947