New Delhi: The Lok Sabha today approved a controversial Bill fixing the retirement age of director of the AIIMS at 65 years seen by opposition as a measure ease out the incumbent and eminent heart surgeon P Venugopal, with whom Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss has been having a raging turf war.

The AIIMS (Amendment) Bill, 2007, which also fixes the age limit for the head of another premier institute PGI, Chandigarh, was passed amidst a walkout by the members of the BJP, who had strongly opposed the legislation. The measure stipulates that "the director shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office or until he attains 65 years of age". The legislation follows a Delhi High Court order that the retirement age of 62 for teaching faculty and 60 for non-teaching faculty did not apply in the case of Director.

After an acrimonius debate in which the opposition attacked the minister for his feud with Venugopal, Ramadoss said it was not an issue between him and Venugopal nor was it between the BJP and the government. "I am trying to give autonomy, but that does not mean there is no accountability.... no accountability to Parliament," he said in his combative reply. However, he dropped another controversial provision relating to termination the services of the Director prior to the expiry of his term "in public interest". After approval by the Rajya Sabha and signed by the President, the legislation may lead the exit of Venugopal.

Source : PTI