New Delhi, July 6
Sacked All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Director P Venugopal today moved the Delhi High Court challenging his unceremonious dismissal following a face-off with Health Minister Ambumani Ramadoss. The court posted hearing on his plea till tomorrow.
The government, which got the renowned heart surgeon sacked by the AIIMS Board with a majority decision yesterday, today placed a condition before the court that if he was ready to tender his resignation from the post of Director, the resolution for his removal would be withdrawn.
“We are willing to withdraw the (board) resolution if there is mutually dignified parting of ways,” the Additional Solicitor-General, Mr Gopal Subramaniam, appearing for the Union Government told Mr Justice Anil Kumar.
But the proposal put forward by the government counsel was outrightly rejected by Dr Venugopal’s lawyer Arun Jaitely, who said there was no question of giving such an undertaking by his client.
Mr Jaitley termed the government proposal as “preposterous, unfair and unworthy of consideration.”
After Mr Subramaniam said that the decision terminating the services of Dr Venugopal would not be placed before Cabinet at least till tomorrow, the court adjourned the hearing for Friday.
Dr Venugopal filed the petition, seeking protection of his fundamental rights while accusing the Health Minister of acting in “mala fide” manner.
In a swift development after the Supreme Court reprimanding the Union Government on withholding of AIIMS doctors’ salary on the orders of the minister, the meeting of the17-member board was convened yesterday, which was attended by its 15 members.
