Dogra to be next AIIMS Director

NEW DELHI: With AIIMS Director P Venugopal completing his tenure next week, the Union Health Ministry has already issued orders reinstating senior most professor of the institute Prof T D Dogra as the next head of the premier medical institute.

Venugopal, who had been removed last year after the Government passed a Bill fixing the age of the AIIMS Director at 65 years, was reinstated by the Supreme Court which struck down the law.

The noted cardiac surgeon's tenure had been marked by a bitter turf war with Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, specially since the 2006 anti-reservation agitation in AIIMS.

The ministry issued a memorandum reinstating Dogra on June 25, sources in the Health Ministry said.

Dogra had been the Acting AIIMS Director since Venugopal's removal in November last year and till his reinstatement in May this year.