Kejriwal opens can of worms in AIIMS CVO removal

Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal on Friday opened a can of worms in connection with the ouster of All India Institute of Medical Sciences Chief Vigilance Officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi, by the union health minister.

He alleged that Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, while removing the CVO to please BJP leader J P Nadda, exonerated Head of Endocrinology Department A C Ammini, who was punished by the ousted CVO. Ammini had allegedly accepted hospitality of a medical college management, against the Medical Council of India rules.

Kejriwal alleged that Ammini got exonerated as she was treating external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj. He released documents in support of his allegations and demanded Harsh Vardhan’s resignation or dismissal.

Kejriwal said that absence of approval from Central Vigilance Commissioner in appointing CVO Sanjiv Chaturvedi has been cited as the reason for his removal from the post. He said the AIIMS was not on the list of institutions where approval of CVC is mandatory.

The health ministry had clarified this more than once and predecessors of Chaturvedi also did not have such approval, he added. “CVC’s approval is merely a formality. Sanjiv’s work has been appreciated by everyone, including the Parliamentary Standing Committee,” he said.