The Hindu : National : Confrontation in AIIMS again

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Sunday, Feb 04, 2007
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National

National

Confrontation in AIIMS again

Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

Director overrules appointment by Minister

NEW DELHI: In the second major case of confrontation at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences here in the recent past, the office of the Director, Dr. P. Venugopal, has overruled a decision of the Governing Body chaired by Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss that appointed B.K. Dash as Consultant Protocol and Public Relations Officer for one year.

Subsequent to the memorandum issued as per the Director's directions, Mr. Dash was on Saturday denied access to his office by security staff that had been placed there by the AIIMS administration. Some months ago the former Registrar of AIIMS, V.P. Gupta, was also replaced by his junior officer against the orders of the Minister and he too had been denied access to his office.

Dr. Ramadoss had on January 31 signed an office order which stated that the Governing Body in its meeting on January 24 had decided to appoint Mr. Dash as Consultant Protocol and PRO of AIIMS for one year and had also stated that he would "function from his present office with the staff and facilities he is entitled to."

Moreover, the order, a copy of which had also been marked by the Minister to Director AIIMS, had also stated that it "comes into force with immediate effect."

However, despite the fact that the Governing Body is the highest executive body of the Institute under the AIIMS Act 1956 and is also the appointing authority for all posts barring that of Director, the Senior Administrative Officer of AIIMS, Prem Ballabh, on Friday (February 2) issued a memorandum overruling it.

The memorandum said that "consequent upon retirement of B.K. Dash, Chief Protocol, Public Relations Officer, from the service of the Institute from January 31, the Director has been pleased to order that Dr. Raju Singh, Chief Medical Officer [Supertime Grade] will look after the work of Chief Protocol, Public Relations Officer with immediate effect till further orders."

It also denied Mr. Dash access to his office and staff. "Dr. Raju Singh shall perform the said duties and responsibilities from office of the Chief Protocol, Public Relations Officer, i.e. Media Centre, with all the staff and facilities" the memorandum said. It said that he shall function in consultation with the Media Advisory Committee.

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