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New Delhi: Refusing to extend the term of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Director P. Venugopal, the Delhi High Court yesterday dismissed a mother's plea to continue his tenure so that her son could receive proper treatment.
Justice G.S. Sistani, while dismissing the plea, also pulled up the petitioner for not approaching the court earlier.
"This is a prompted petition and if you were concerned about the treatment of your child, then you would have approached us earlier," the court said.
Venugopal retired yesterday.
Sistani also said Venugopal's tenure would not be extended just for one patient as there were thousands others being treated in the hospital.
Filing a petition through counsel Sugriv Dubey, Mira Mishra said her son's treatment would remain incomplete if Venugopal retired as scheduled.
Mishra said her son was suffering from a heart problem as one of the valves was not functioning properly.
Venugopal and his team have been treating the boy since his birth and she had been assured that this would be completed by January this year, she added.
"When I approached the hospital for final treatment in January, I was told that the noted heart surgeon was removed from the post," Mishra said. Following an apex court judgment reinstating Venugopal as the AIIMS director, Mishra said she again approached the hospital for her child's treatment.
She was told that Venugopal's term would end July 2. She moved the high court to extend his term by six months.
Future plan: To set up institute
P. Venugopal may have retired as the director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) yesterday, but not one to sit idle he has sculpted plans for the future. He has already asked top doctors of the premier institute to join him in his new endeavour.
"I won't be sitting idle after working for so long. I will set up an institute like AIIMS somewhere near the institute," Venugopal said on his last day in office.
"I am not trying to poach but they are free to join me anytime. I am open to them and my association with them will continue," he said.
Indicating that he might join hands with private players to set up a super specialty hospital, the renowned cardiologist said: "There is no dearth of funds. More people are now ready to invest in healthcare.
" We are in talks and you will see me in Delhi and elsewhere working," he said.
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