Soon after taking charge, Venugopal’s first administrative decision is a sign of things to come. The institute postponed indefinitely the interviews for senior resident doctors scheduled for May 10-12. Earlier, the resident doctors at the institute had filed a contempt petition in the Delhi High Court, alleging that despite the court’s earlier order to maintain status quo in selection of senior resident doctors till further orders, the institute was making a “willful and deliberate attempt to muddle with the rules”.

Many at the institute are also hoping that the conflict over the appointment of Senior Financial Adviser at the institute will be resolved. Rashmi Jain was appointed as SFA during Venugopal’s tenure, but in a communication issued by the Health Ministry in March, Jain was repatriated to her parent IRS cadre. While the move was seen as the ministry’s bid to wrest control of the AIIMS finances, the Central Administrative Tribunal stayed the ministry’s order. Still, Jain was not allowed to take charge. With Venugopal’s return, she may now be back.

Meanwhile, Dr T.D. Dogra, appointed by Ramadoss to serve as acting AIIMS director while Venugopal was away, shot off a complaint to the director alleging “misbehaviour” at his office by some faculty members, and saying that the director “did nothing” while he was being harassed. While he has sought leave till July 2 (when Venugopal’s term at AIIMS ends), the institute may play see yet another battle in the form of RDA’s opposition to quotas at PG level. While the health minister wants to implement it this year, the resident doctors have been opposing it. Clearly, AIIMS is in for tough times.