SC dismisses Centre's plea on AIIMS director's retirement age

The Supreme Court has dismissed the Centre's petition seeking review of its order quashing the health ministry's move to fix 65 years as the upper age limit for AIIMS director -- which led to the premature retirement of P Venugopal last year. Venugopal, who was reinstated as AIIMS director after court's intervention, has now left the Institute after his five-year tenure as director ended in July. The government's petition related to his premature retirement episode now is limited to the technical point of fixing 65 as the upper age limit for retirement of AIIMS director. A division bench comprising Justices Tarun Chatterjee and H S Bedi, however, refused to entertain the Government's plea review its order. The apex court, on 9th May 2008, had struck down the controversial amendment to Section 11 of the AIIMS Act, 2007 by which Venugopal was prematurely retired and had termed the proviso as "unconstitutional and against the principles of natural justice". The court had passed the order on a petition filed by the former director P Venugopal alleging that the act was amended for the purpose of removing him from the prestigious institute. Sixtysix-year-old Venugopal, whose five-year term was due to end on 2nd July this year, was eased out of office last November following an amendment to the AIIMS Act fixing 65 years as the age of superannuation. Venugopal and Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss were engaged in a bitter turf war over the control of the prestigious institute and the controversial amendment to the AIIMS Act was perceived to be linked to their tussle.

"Loved reading this piece by Prakash Yedhula?
Join LAWyersClubIndia's network for daily News Updates, Judgment Summaries, Articles, Forum Threads, Online Law Courses, and MUCH MORE!!"

Join our Telegram group

Join our Whatsapp group