Congress defends Ramadoss on AIIMS issue

New Delhi, May 9 (UNI) The Congress today sought to downplay the Supreme Court verdict striking down the AIIMS Amendment Act, saying that it would not comment on judicial pronouncements.

AICC Spokesman Shakeel Ahmed evaded a question on if Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss would be sacked for the AIIMS fiasco. "The bill was passed by Parliament." He said the Amendment legislation was meant not only for AIIMS, but also for JIPMER, Puducherry and PGI, Chandigarh.

The Supreme Court yesterday declared as unconstitutional the Amendment Act on the ground that it was brought forward only to remove AIIMS Director P Venugopal from the post. Following the court order, Dr Venugopal re-assumed charge as Director yesterday itself.

To repeated questions on the morality of Dr Ramadoss continuing in the Union Cabinet despite the adverse court verdict, Mr Ahmed said the government would examine the judgement after receiving the full text and decide on the future course of action.

On the SC judgement on the Sethusamudram project, he said the Congress was on record that it would go by the directive of the apex court on this issue. The government would decide the future course of action after getting the details of the judgement.

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