Dr Venugopal says he cannot be forced to retire

New Delhi, Mar 14 (UNI) AIIMS Director P Venugopal today told the Delhi High Court that he cannot be forced to retire as it was a tenure post and his appointment had been approved by the Central Government.

Senior Counsel Arun Jaitley appearing for Dr Venugopal before a bench of Justice Swatanter Kumar and Justice H R Malhotra said the age of superanuation at the age of 62 for AIIMS employees would not be applicable in the case of the Director.

''The post of the Director is an ex-cadre post and Dr Venugopal could not be forced to retire at the age of 62,'' said Mr Jaitley.

For the removal of the Director due procedure should be followed, said Mr Jaitley.

The arguments remained inconclusive and will continue tomorrow.

As the director of the premier medical institute, he has three primary functions to perform that of patient care, to impart medical education and to conduct research in medical science. And he was performing his duty with utmost devotion and care, Mr Jaitley said.

The Central Government, AIIMS and Institute Governing body had filed a petition challenging the November 2006 order of the single bench which stayed the dismissal of Dr Venugopal.

The Government has charged Dr Venugopal of financial mismanagement, maladministration, parochial attitude and tacit support to the strike during the anti-reservation agitation.

In July 2006, a decision was taken by the Institute President and Union Health Minister Ambumani Ramadoss supported by the majority of the 17 members of the Institute Governing Body(IB) to sack Dr Venugopal from his post.

The High Court had stayed the decision following a petition filed by Dr Venugopal challenging the decision for his termination. After the court's intervention, the government withdrew its decision.

UNI