New Delhi: In a surprise move, the Centre on Tuesday offered to withdraw its controversial decision to sack All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Director P Venugopal but said it would raise charges against him afresh.
An undertaking to this effect was given by Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramainum in the Delhi High Court.
The move came after a Division Bench headed by acting Chief Justice Vijender Jain rebuffed the Centre for filing an appeal against a single Judge order staying Venugopal’s termination decision.
The Government withdrew the appeal after the Bench threatened to dismiss it.
"We will make our decision more democratic and transparent by circulating the charges levelling against him," Subrahmaniam informed the Court.
He said the copies of the charges would be circulated not only to Venugopal but also to all governing body members of the premier institute and its faculty.
Venugopal was ousted from his post on charges of violating the code of conduct after AIIMS' governing body meeting chaired by Union Health Minister A Ramadoss passed a resolution to this effect.
Venugopal has been associated with AIIMS for 48 years. He joined the institute in 1959 as an undergraduate, did his post-graduation from AIIMS and has been associated with it ever since. He had joined AIIMS as a faculty member in 1970.
He is one of the topmost cardiac experts in India and most recognised surgeon at AIIMS. He also performed the first heart transplant in India in 1994.
Since then, he has conducted over 50,000 open heart surgeries. He was decorated with Padma Bhushan in 1998 for his achievements.
The renowned surgeon has been engaged in some landmark research in the field of cellular cardioplasty (involving stem cell).
Venugopal had been at loggerheads with Ramadoss over the functioning and management of the premier institute.
Ramadoss had alleged that AIIMS had become a political hub while Venugopal had accused the government of trying to snatch AIIMS's autonomy.
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