PTI
 
New Delhi, Jul 8: Shortly after resuming duty following a High Court stay on his removal, AIIMS Director P Venugopal on stripped Registrar V P Gupta of his responsibilities and sought an explanation for ordering release of the salary of resident doctors for their strike period in May 2006.

The June 30, 2006 memorandum issued by the Registrar was one of the major points of differences between Venugopal and Health Minister Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, who had got the order superseded the next day.

The renowned cardiologist, who was sought to be removed by the Health Minister with a recommendation from the AIIMS' Governing Council on Wednesday, came back to work on Saturday following the interim stay given on Friday by the Delhi High Court, where Venugopal had challenged the move.

Apart from administrative work he also attended to patients. He had not come to work after the Governing Council's recommendation to the Government for his removal.

Venugopal has now asked Gupta to hand over charge to his deputy and give an explanation on the release of salary to the doctors for the 17-day anti-reservation strike period, AIIMS sources said. The explanation from Gupta has been sought within two weeks, the sources said.

Meanwhile, normality returned to the premier institute with medical services, disrupted due to the flash strike by doctors protesting moves to sack Venugopal, functioning smoothly.

"The OPD and emergency services are working normally with the striking doctors back on the job since late last night," AIIMS spokesperson Shakti Gupta said.