SC begins final hearing on Venugopal's petition

The Supreme Court has commenced the final hearing on a petition filed by noted cardiologist P Venugopal challenging his removal as AIIMS Director following the Centre's decision to fix 65 years as the upper age limit for the post. Senior advocate Arun Jaitely, who opened the argument on behalf of Venugopal, alleged that an amendment to the AIIMS Act was brought about by the Centre with the sole purpose of removing the distinguished cardiologist. "The amendment to the AIIMS Act pertaining to fixation of upper age for the Director at 65 is discriminatory against the distinguished cardiologist and needs to be quashed," Jaitely said before a Bench headed by Justice Tarun Chatterjee. He contended that the Act was illegal as the High Court had in March last year okayed his continuance in the post. While the matter was pending in the apex court, the Centre brought about an amendment to the Act, abruptly ending his services, he alleged. The case came up before the apex court after a tussle between Venugopal and Health Minister Ambumani Ramadoss over the control of the prestigious institution. Earlier, on 3rd December, the apex court had expressed displeasure over the removal of the Director and described it as "unfortunate". "Why was such a reputed person humiliated in this way," the Court had asked while questioning the motive behind bringing about an amendment to the AIIMS Act when Venugopal's tenure as Director was coming to an end after six months. The Court, however, had expressed "difficulty" in staying the operation of the law passed by Parliament. The Centre, on the other hand, had defended the legislation saying that malice could not be attributed to Parliament for making the law as it was a policy and not discrimination against any individual. The government had further contended that it was merely addressing the directive of the High Court for removing the ambiguity in the appointment of AIIMS Director by making a statute.

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