11-02-2007, 02:46 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Another effort to get rid of AIIMS Director </b>
Akhilesh Suman | New Delhi
Centre plans ordinance aimed to oust Venugopal
The Centre may come out with an ordinance on Friday to remove Director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences Dr P Venugopal from his post.
The proposal to this effect will be taken up by the Union Cabinet meeting on Friday when it considers promulgation of an ordinance to amend AIIMS Act, 1956.
<b>According to sources, the amendment would pave the way for Venugopal's immediate ouster by changing service rules of the AIIMS Director. </b>
The amendment seeks Cabinet approval to fix a five-year term for the AIIMS Director or 65 years of age, whichever is earlier.
<b>Dr Venugopal is yet to complete his five-year term, but he has already crossed the age of 65 years. If the ordinance is approved and signed by President Pratibha Patil, Venugopal would have to put in his papers.</b>
In an attempt to show the decision was not specifically targeted at Venugopal, the am-endment would also cover Post-graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (Chandigarh) Act, 1965.
Union Health Minister A Ramadoss has been fighting a long battle to remove Venugopal. Last year, he had tried to sack Venugopal through a majority decision of the institute's governing council.
<b>The decision was later stayed by the Delhi High Court. The Government sources said that after the defeat in the court, the Health Minister was lobbying hard in the Government for removal of the Director. </b>
However, Prime Minister Mamohan Singh was not in favour of the removal of the famous Director, and the proposed ordinance could not be taken up for consideration in the last several Cabinet meetings. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Akhilesh Suman | New Delhi
Centre plans ordinance aimed to oust Venugopal
The Centre may come out with an ordinance on Friday to remove Director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences Dr P Venugopal from his post.
The proposal to this effect will be taken up by the Union Cabinet meeting on Friday when it considers promulgation of an ordinance to amend AIIMS Act, 1956.
<b>According to sources, the amendment would pave the way for Venugopal's immediate ouster by changing service rules of the AIIMS Director. </b>
The amendment seeks Cabinet approval to fix a five-year term for the AIIMS Director or 65 years of age, whichever is earlier.
<b>Dr Venugopal is yet to complete his five-year term, but he has already crossed the age of 65 years. If the ordinance is approved and signed by President Pratibha Patil, Venugopal would have to put in his papers.</b>
In an attempt to show the decision was not specifically targeted at Venugopal, the am-endment would also cover Post-graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (Chandigarh) Act, 1965.
Union Health Minister A Ramadoss has been fighting a long battle to remove Venugopal. Last year, he had tried to sack Venugopal through a majority decision of the institute's governing council.
<b>The decision was later stayed by the Delhi High Court. The Government sources said that after the defeat in the court, the Health Minister was lobbying hard in the Government for removal of the Director. </b>
However, Prime Minister Mamohan Singh was not in favour of the removal of the famous Director, and the proposed ordinance could not be taken up for consideration in the last several Cabinet meetings. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->