NEW DELHI: At the instance of the Union Health Ministry, the Registrar of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, V.P. Gupta, resumed duty on Monday, three days after he was ordered to relinquish duty.

The institute's Director, P. Venugopal, had passed the order for "misinterpreting" his direction on the release of salaries of medicos for the anti-reservation strike period in May.

Mr. Gupta reported for duty after the Ministry directed that the Director's order "may not be given effect to."

The Registrar was issued a show cause notice on Friday and asked to explain his conduct on the salary issue within two weeks.

He was also asked to hand over charge for the period to his junior, S.P. Soni.

The latest order by the Health Ministry sent to the Director and Dean pointed out that Mr. Gupta was selected through open competition to the sanctioned post of Registrar and was appointed with the approval of the competent authority.

"As per the schedule of the AIIMS regulations, 1999, the appointing authority for the Group-A post in the Institute is the Governing Body." Accordingly, any order asking him to relinquish the charge of the post can be issued only with the approval of the Governing Body," it said.

"In this case, no approval seems to have been obtained. You are, therefore, requested to place the relevant document for consideration of the competent authority for appropriate decision. Till such time, the order dated July 7, 2006, regarding relinquishing of duties of Registrar by the Director may not be given effect to." it said.

While under the order Mr. Gupta has been allowed to return to work overruling the Director's order, he is still required to explain the alleged "misinterpretation" of the issue of salary release for the medicos.

Special Correspondent adds:

Meanwhile, the Janata Dal (United) on Monday appealed to its ally, the BJP, and the Congress not to "go overboard" with their support for Director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences P. Venugopal and with the "vilification" of Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss.

"The AIIMS issue is of reservations for Other Backward Classes in higher institutions and not of autonomy of AIIMS as is being made out by certain sections in these parties. They should clearly appreciate that their duplicity would not be tolerated by the weaker sections of the country," JD (U) spokesman Shambhu Srivastava said at a press conference.

The party suggested that all Dravidian parties, which have had a long struggle for reservations, should come out of the United Progressive Alliance Government.

Accusing Dr. Venugopal of trying to "foist his caste biases", Dr. Srivastava said he was a good doctor but he should separate his role as a doctor and as a Director.

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