NEW DELHI, 8 July 2006 — With the Delhi High Court having stayed the dismissal of P. Venugopal as director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), the government has apparently been caught in a fix.
A decision regarding his dismissal was taken on Wednesday by the AIIMS governing body, chaired by Health Minister A. Ramadoss. Venugopal moved the court on Thursday challenging his dismissal. Venugopal claimed that his dismissal was unfair, without giviving him any prior notice or chance to defend his position.
His petition sought a stay on his dismissal saying that he has not flouted any code of conduct as claimed by Ramadoss. Turning his ire against Ramadoss, Venugopal has questioned Ramadoss’ position as head of AIIMS governing body. Venugopal has also petitioned the Election Commission accusing Ramadoss of holding an office of profit. Venugopal has sought disqualification of Ramadoss as health minister on the ground that he was holding an office of profit as president of the premier institute.
Justice Anil Kumar granted the interim stay after a three-hour argument advanced by Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramanian for the government and senior counsel Arun Jaitley on behalf of Venugopal. Justice Kumar issued notices to the government, AIIMS, minister of health and family welfare and the Election Commission asking them to file their replies within two weeks.
The court will hear the case again on Aug. 17.
Manmohan, Sonia Have Been Upset With Venugopal
Health Minister Ramadoss may have earned the wrath of the medical community with his sacking of one of India’s best heart surgeons as head of the country’s prestigious AIIMS hospital, but the powers that be were unhappy with his handling of the medicos’ strike over the quotas issue.
Congress leaders swear that both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party president Sonia Gandhi were “very upset” over Venugopal’s perceived attempts to encourage the 14-day strike over a month ago against caste-based quotas in institutions of higher education.
“Both leaders were disappointed that Venugopal did not do anything to end the strike despite repeated pleas and assurances from the government,” a Congress leader told IANS on condition of anonymity. “Many in the government feel that Venugopal was solely responsible for the strike.”
Political analysts and party sources insist that Manmohan was maintaining silence over the ouster of Venugopal from the AIIMS due to his unwillingness to interfere in a Cabinet minister’s decision.
In this particular case, any veto by Manmohan would have also led to taking on an ally, the PMK, which while holding just six seats in Parliament has a close relationship with Tamil Nadu’s ruling party DMK.
The PMK draws its main strength from the Vanniyar community, which accounts for some 20 percent of Tamil Nadu’s 60 million people and populates mainly the state’s northern belt. “It is true that the PMK has a considerable hold over the Vanniyars. But I don’t think it was his political clout that helped him to dismiss Venugopal,” senior Congress leader Era Anbarasu told IANS.
“I believe the Congress and the government feel that he (Ramadoss) took the right decision,” Anbarasu said.
— With input from IANS
