AIIMS RDA welcome HC directive on Dr Venugopal

New Delhi, Oct 18 (UNI) Describing as ''victory of truth'' the High Court directive to AIIMS Institute Body on Director P Venugopal, AIIMS RDA today said it will fight to protect the autonomy of the premier healthcare institute.

''This fight is not only for Dr Venugopal it is for the autonomy of the premier institute which should be upheld,'' RDA General Secretary Anil Sharma said.

Coming down heavily on Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss for targeting the AIIMS Director, he said it was ''shameful'' that ''petty politics was being played'' at the time when people are dying of dengue and chikungunya.

''The health minister must ''concentrate'' on fighting dengue and chikungunya and not target the institute. We have to think of people,'' he added.

The AIIMS Resident Doctors' Association, students and some faculty had on July 5 gone on flash strike within minutes of the Institute Body meeting, chaired by Dr Ramadoss, sacking Dr Venugopal on disciplinary charges.

The strike, second in almost three months in AIIMS, was called off on July 7 after the High Court put a stay on the dismissal.

Dr Ramadoss, who is also the President of the institute, and the AIIMS Director have been at loggerheads over some time particularly over the anti-quota agitation in May, which was run from AIIMS under the banner of Youth for Equality.

The Delhi High Court today said any action against Dr Venugopal would be subject to the final verdict on the petition which is pending in the matter.

However, the court allowed today's crucial Institute body meeting to go ahead as per scheduled.

Justice Anil Kumar said, ''Any decision of the IB would be subject to the final decision on the petition.'' The Court permitted the meeting to take up discussion on various topics, including the mismanagement and alleged criticism by Dr Venugopal of the Health Minister for ''unduly intervening'' in the functioning of the premier health institute and an outbreak of dengue.

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