With the government passing the AIIMS and the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, in Parliament, the AIIMS director P Venugopal prepared himself for the final legal battle as he approached the Supreme Court challenging thelegislation.
The Centre, through the amendment, has fixed the age of retirement of the AIIMS director?s post at 65 years, apparently to sack Venugopal from his post. In the petition, the director contended that the Act is ??smacked of malafide and arbitrariness.??
Meanwhile, in Rajya Sabha, the BJP members, in a last ditch effort, came to the rescue of Venugopal and challenged the way the government introduced the Bill in the Upper House on Wednesday. When the AIADMK members also joined their NDA counterparts, the House saw heated arguments between the Opposition and ruling sides. Later, the NDA walked out of the House protesting the government?s ??hurry?? on the issue.
The Opposition earlier stalled the proceedings, leading to adjournment of the House twice. Some of the members also stormed into the well of the House. The SP and the Left had also opposed the manner in which the Bill was introduced on Wednesday. The Bill also limits serving age of Directors of the Chandigarh?s Post Graduate Institute. The Bill, however, was passed in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday amid disruptions.
In the meantime, following a direction from the Delhi High Court, the medicos and house surgeons in the AIIMS called off their one-day-old strike to protest the passing of the
AIIMS Bill. ??We had decided to follow the advice of the faculty, which has decided against the strike,?? AIIMS Resident Doctors? Association general secretary Anil Sharma told reporters.
A bench of the Delhi High Court on Thursday morning had asked the Centre and AIIMS governing body to take action against the striking resident doctors.
