Ramadoss signs AIIMS graduate degrees

Sept 04: Now the AIIMS resident doctors feel relief as Union Health Minister, Anbumani Ramadoss, has signed on their degree certificates after following a Delhi High Court order to affix the sign on the certificates within 24 hours.

"The Minister has signed all the degree certificates and it will be distributed to students complying with the court orders," official ministry informed today.

Yesterday, the Delhi High Court had ordered Ramadoss to put his signature on all 49 degree certificates within 24 hours by rejecting his logic, “The degree would be illegal, if I affixed my sign, as Registrar has already signed on those degrees”.

“This is a baseless argument. The minister shall affix the signatures on 49 degrees as well as such other certificates of the students who need these to take admission for higher studies. The minister shall sign the certificates within 24 hours,” said Justice S Ravinder Bhatt, the sitting judge on Monday. The signature of the minister is essential on those degrees who want to go abroad for further study.

The court has also rebuked to health minister for not affixing the signature due to the turf war and ego tussle going on between the minister and AIIMS director, P Venugopal. As it is known that the Union Health minister is also the ‘President’ of AIIMS according to government law. Earlier he had refused to sign on the graduate degree certificates quoting that “if I put my signature on the certificates, it would be invalid.”

The court has also stated, "The certificates forward to the minister containing the signature of Sandeep Agarwal, registrar, shall be deemed to have been validly executed,” The health minister was opposing the appointment of Registrar (Exam).

Now, following the order of the court, the minister has signed on the certificates and assured resident doctors to deliver it on September 25, Thursday at the convocation. Besides this he has also announced that “Those who are in a hurry to apply abroad for education can come to me and their degrees will be signed within one or two days while the rest of the degrees will be handed over by next month”. At present Ambumani is in Chennai.

Earlier AIIMS resident doctor went on a three days strike for opposing the refusal act of Ambumani. Some Resident Doctors knocked the door of Delhi High Court and the Court has to interfere between the turf war of AIIMS director and health minister.