New Delhi: In the midst of a battle between Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss and AIIMS Director P Venugopal, the Centre was directed by the Delhi High Court on Wednesday to file a reply on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging his appointment as a Director.
A Division Bench headed by Justice M K Sharma also granted two weeks time to Venugopal to file his reply on the PIL filed by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) which his counsel Arun Jaitley alleged was "motivated and inspired" by the Government.
The PIL assumes significance in the context of the recent controversy against the backdrop of the Insititute's Governing Council's recommendation to remove Venugopal which the Court had stayed.
The PIL filed by CPIL through counsel Prashant Bhusan had alleged that Venugopal's appointment made in 2003 for a six-year term was illegal as the Director was due for his
superannuation in 2007.
It was contended that Venugopal's six-year term would extend up to 2009, two years beyond the age of his superannuation.
Further the petition complained that Venugopal was not entitled to hold the dual posts - as Director of the Institute and Head of the Department of Cardio Thorasic Surgery.
In fact, the petition was filed in May this year but at that time the Centre sought time to file reply.
The Centre, which had moved an appeal against the stay order, however, withdrew it on the ground that it would circulate the charge memo among the Council members to initiate a fresh move to oust Venugopal from the post.
When the matter came up for hearing on Wednesday, the Additonal Solicitor General P P Malhotra told the court that the Government was yet to formulate its reply.
Jaitley rose to allege, "the PIL being motivated and inspired by the Government." He said it was now for the Government to file a reply and explain it's stance on the issue.
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