New Delhi, Mar 13 (UNI) AIIMS Director P Venugopal today told the Delhi High Court that as a responsible surgeon he was treating patients in public interest by holding the office of head of the department (HOD) of the Cardio-thorasic surgery department.

Appearing before a bench of Justices Swatanter Kumar and H R Malhotra, Dr Venugopal's counsel Maninder Singh submitted he was not holding two posts as alleged by the petition which sought the judicial direction for his removal from the premier institute.

''There is a distinction between the post and office. The HOD is an office and not a post,'' said Being the head of the department of the Cardio-thorasic surgery department he was not holding the additional post, he said.

He was appointed as Director of the institute for a period of five years and as a responsible surgeon he was treating patients in public interest, said Mr Singh countering the allegation in a public interest petition.

The arguments remained inconclusive and would continue tomorrow.

The Central Government, AIIMS and Institute Governing body had filed a petition challenging the November 2006 order of the Single Bench which stayed the dismissal of Dr Venugopal.

In July 2006, a decision was taken by the Institute President and Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramdoss supported by the majority of the 17 members of the Institute Governing Body(IB) to sack Dr Venugopal from his post.

UNI