AIIMS doctors to boycott Ramadoss at convocation

Even as resident doctors of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) called off their strike today against the delay in the award of their degrees for the past three years, they have decided to boycott Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss at the convocation slated for September.

New Delhi, Aug 30 : Even as resident doctors of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) called off their strike today against the delay in the award of their degrees for the past three years, they have decided to boycott Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss at the convocation slated for September.

"We are boycotting Ramadoss, our respected, honourable Health Minister in our convocation. If he comes, we won't accept degrees from his hand," said AIIMS Resident Doctors' Association President Dr. Harsh.

Medicos at the AIIMS called off their three-day-old strike after a resolution of their demands.

"At the Staff Council Meeting a resolution was passed in which it was decided that the Dean and the Director can sign on the degree and it has been legally verified also, it's a valid degree," said Dr Harsh.

Ramadoss, who is also the President of the AIIMS management body, had refused to sign the degree certificates, terming them as illegal since they were signed by the Registrar of AIIMS, Dr Sandeep Agarwal.

"Dr Agarwal's appointment as Registrar does not have the approval of the (AIIMS) Governing Body. Therefore, these documents are illegal, and I cannot put my signature on illegal documents," said Ramadoss.

Expressing happiness over the decision, on behalf of the doctors, Dr Harsh said "We thank the judiciary which took suo motto cognizance of this matter and brought the reality."

The Delhi High Court had asked the Central Government to solve the crisis.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice M K Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Khanna said that if the Centre fails to take action, then the court would take action.

"If you (Centre) do it today, then it's ok, but if you fail to resolve the crisis, then we have to take action," the Bench said.

It further said that the Government cannot refuse to give degrees to the doctors.

The strike had crippled medical services at the hospital.

Ramadoss had warned the doctors of action, including suspension, if they did not call off the strike.

Doctors, who went on strike on Tuesday evening, said those who have qualified for various medical courses, are facing difficulty in seeking jobs or pursuing higher studies in the absence of their degrees.

ANI