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Friday, Jun 16, 2006

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AIIMS Director proceeds on leave

Special Correspondent

"If anyone wants to resign, he is free to do so," says Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss

NEW DELHI: The All-India Institute of Medical Sciences Director, Dr. P. Venugopal, proceeded on leave on Thursday after appointing Dr. T. D. Dogra, Head of the Forensic Department at the Institute, as the acting Director.

The dramatic development came within hours of Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss saying that if anyone wanted to resign from a post, he was free to do so.

Reacting to the statement made earlier in the day by Dr. Venugopal that he would not hesitate to quit his post if the Minister did not stop interfering in the functioning of the Institute, Dr. Ramadoss said, "If anybody wants to resign, he is free to resign."

Describing the recent developments within AIIMS as a continuation of the anti-reservation agitation, Dr. Ramadoss told The Hindu over phone from Chennai that a few members of the faculty were instigating some people on the issue.

"For the past three years, AIIMS administration was ineffective and my only interference was that I got Rs. 500 crore released for it and got some pending projects completed. It is wrong on the part of some to instigate people," he added.

Dr. Venugopal in a statement said, "During the last two years there has been a systematic undermining of the Institute and the authority of its Director. I being the Director am disturbed with the humiliation to the respect and dignity of my faculty, officers, residents, students and staff. As the head of the AIIMS family, it is my bounden duty to either ensure that the legitimate interest of the Institute and its functionaries are maintained or seek justice from appropriate authorities."

Meanwhile, demanding immediate removal of Dr. Ramadoss as president of AIIMS and the resignation of the Institute Dean, Dr. R.C. Deka, members of the AIIMS Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) held a protest demonstration and gheraoed the Dean's residence.

The protest came in the wake of the notice being issued on Tuesday to doctors informing them of a salary cut for 17 days when they were on an anti-reservation strike last month.

Speaking after an interaction with the Dean, the RDA president, Dr. Binod Patro, said, "The Minister has been targeting AIIMS and victimising faculties and other staff for vested interests and reasons best known to him. We are demanding immediate removal of the Dean who has been appointed by Dr. Ramadoss bypassing procedure and many other senior faculties."

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