Venugopal acts to clear air on anti-quota stir mess

The AIIMS chief seeks explanation from the registrar on the release of salaries of docs engaged in the anti-quota stir.

AIIMS Director P Venugopal on Saturday served a show-cause notice on the institute's Registrar VP Gupta, seeking within two weeks an explanation on release of salaries to doctors engaged in the anti-quota agitation, and ordered him to relinquish duty for the period.

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"Gupta has been served a show-cause notice and asked to explain within two weeks the confusion regarding the release of salaries to the doctors who participated in the anti-quota agitation," AIIMS spokesperson Shakti Gupta said.

He clarified that Gupta has not been dismissed and had only been asked to explain his position.

"When a show-cause notice is served a person is asked to relinquish duty for the period he submits an explanation," he added.

Venugopal resumed duty on Saturday morning after the High court stayed his dismissal on Friday.
 
Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, who is on a warpath with Venugopal, had stopped salaries of the doctors for the strike period of almost 16 days, saying "no work no pay", despite court orders that no punitive action will be taken against striking doctors.

Venugopal was criticised for allowing the almost 16-day anti-quota reservation in May to be run from the institute's premises and "being lenient " with the agitating doctors and students.

On July 1, there were reports that Dr Venugopal had ordered the release of the salaries to the agitating doctors.

However, the next day his office denied the reports and even the administration did not release the salaries, saying the matter was pending in court.

After joining duty, Venugopal only cleared some files in his office, sources in his office said.

"He came in at about 12 pm for about half an hour and cleared some file... There were some administrative issues which needed his immediate attention" they added.

After the court order, the director had said he would not compromise on the dignity of the institute and continue to fight for its autonomy.

He had said he would ignore the "personal humiliation meted out to him".

Venugopal was dismissed on Wednesday by the AIIMS Institute Governing Body, headed by Ramadoss, for violating the code of conduct of the premier institute.