RS passes AIIMS amendment bill amidst din

Amidst noisy protests by the opposition, the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the controversial Bill fixing the retirement age of director of AIIMS in a move apparently aimed at easing out incumbent P Venugopal.

Amidst noisy protests by the opposition, the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the controversial Bill fixing the retirement age of director of AIIMS in a move apparently aimed at easing out incumbent P Venugopal who is locked in a turf war with Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss.

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The AIIMS (Amendment) Bill, 2007 which also fixes the age limit for the head of another premier institute PGI, Chandigarh, was passed amidst din as several members of BJP and AIIDMK rushed to the well of the House to protest the Bill.

The passage of the bill in Rajya Sabha put Parliament's seal of approval to the legislation after the Lok Sabha had passed it on November 22.

The legislative measure stipulates that "the director shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office or until he attains 65 years of age."

The legislation follows a Delhi High Court order that the retirement age of 62 for teaching faculty and 60 for non-teaching faculty did not apply in the case of Director.

Earlier in the day, the government's bid to push through the bill generated considerable heat as the opposition stalled proceedings leading to adjournment of the House twice.

Accusing the government of "bulldozing" through the legislation, AIADMK and BJP members stormed the well and the agitated members had heated exchanges with treasury benches.

The Opposition protested that the bill was not listed in scheduled business of the day.