AIIMS convocation ceremony today

NI Wire

New Delhi

Tue, 23 Oct 2007: 

Oct 23: With the tussle between All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Director P Venugopal and Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, finally came to a cease-fire with India’s premier medical institute to award degree certificates to itstudents at a convocation ceremony scheduled on Tuesday.

About 750 medical graduates and post graduates are to get their degrees. Previously after a long strike by the AIIMS resident doctors, the director of the institute had finalised September 25 for the convocation but due to prior arrangements of Health Minister the ceremony was postponed to Oct 23.

Earlier in the month of August doctors went on strike demanding issuance of certificates. Doctors also needed them early as some of them had to went abroad for study and job but Health Minister who is also the president of the AIIMS refused to sign in certificates pointing out that they bear the signature of registrar whose appointment was illegal.

The minister had also accused the director for not conducting convocation for the last two years. The Health Ministry had indicated that the September 25 ceremony was scheduled without the consent of the ministry.

However, after obeying the direction of Delhi High Court, the minister had signed in some certificates who wanted them in an urgent basis for securing admission in foreign universities. Others had to wait for Oct 23 for their degrees.

The Union Health Minister will award a total of 103 MBBS and 186 MD degrees today. The Deputy Chairperson of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia will also grace the ceremony as a chief guest.