AIIMS doctors call off strike,will work continuously for 72 hrs

New Delhi, Nov 29 (UNI) Resident doctors of the premier All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) today called off their strike which they resorted to since this morning in protest against the passage of the AIIMS Amendment Bill, which paves the way for Institute Director P Venugopal's exit.

''The strike was called off on an appeal by the Director himself.

Now we are on a 72-hour reverse strike as per which we will work continously at the OPD for that period. We decided this at our General Body Meeting as we are being accused of neglecting patients,'' said Dr Anil Sharma, General Secretary of the RDA.

He said now the Director or if need be the RDA will move the Supreme Court against the passage of the Bill, which restricts the retirement age of AIIMS Director at 65 years.

A memorandum signed by the resident doctors and the faculty will also be submitted to the President regarding the ''autocratic behaviour of Health Minister Ambumani Ramadoss''.

He wondered why Parliament had to interfere in a matter that was subjudice. ''The issue was to come up in the Supreme Court on December 10. What was the hurry for Parliament to pass such a Bill?'' he asked.

He alleged that by doing so, Parliament was interfering with the judicial process.

Dr Sharma also pointed out if Dr Ramadoss had his way, Dr Venugopal would have been thrown out of office a year and a half ago. It was on High Court orders that he was reinstated.