HC seeks record on reinstatement of former AIIMS official

HC seeks record on reinstatement of former AIIMS official
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NEW DELHI, MARCH 31: The Delhi High Court today sought relevant records from the Union Health Ministry and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) relating to the suspension of the institute's former medical superintendent Dr R C Anand and subsequent revocation of the order.

Anand, who was allegedly caught red-handed taking a bribe of Rs 10,000 from some suppliers by the Anti-Corruption Branch of Delhi government on July 20, 1998, was subsequently placed under suspension.

A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Devinder Gupta and Justice Cyriac Joseph said they would like to see the records before issuing any notice on a PIL challenging the government order of March 22 for revoking the suspension of Dr Anand and appointing him as medical superintendent of Rajendra Prasad Centre for Opthalmic Sciences.

Seeking quashing of the Health Ministry's order, a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Poonam Singh through her advocate A V Palli said the government action had come when the request for sanction to prosecute Dr Anand was pending before it.

Describing the decision of the government as "illegal, arbitrary and malafide", the petitioner also requested the court to monitor the case itself after calling the relevant records from the concerned authorities.