Centre to raise charges against Venugopal afresh

NEW DELHI: In a surprise move, the Centre on Tuesday offered in the Delhi High Court to rescind its controversial decision to sack All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Director P Venugopal but will raise charges against him afresh.

An undertaking to this effect was given by Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam after a Division Bench headed by acting Chief Justice Vijender Jain rebuffed the Centre for filing an appeal against a single judge order staying the termination decision.

The Government withdrew the appeal after the bench threatened to dismiss it. "We will make our decision more democratic and transparent by circulating the charges levelling against him," Subrahmaniam informed the Court.

He said the copies of the charges will be circulated not only to Venugopal but also to all governing body members of the premier institute and its faculty.