New Delhi, June 13: Perhaps for the first time in its recent history, the capital's All India Institute of Medical Sciences has dismissed three senior academics including a professor of nuclear medicine from its services on charges of gross misconduct and disobedience. A K Padhy, professor of nuclear medicine, P Mandal, additional professor in the department of anaesthesiology and Renu Gupta, additional professor of radio diagnosis were dismissed by the governing body of the institute at its meeting on June four chaired by Union Health Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is also its president, AIIMS sources said today.

All the three had been allegedly absenting from duty "unauthorisedly without any sanction or prior approval of leave by the competent authority," they said.

The governing body, which is also the disciplinary authority, has imposed the penalty of "withholding of two increments" on H P Pati, additional professor of haematology on similar charges, the sources said.

The sources said the "extreme step" was taken as senior academics were going on long leave and taking up foreign assignments and not reporting back "inspite of several recall notices."

When contacted, AIIMS' deputy director (administration) N Baijendra Kumar said, "such exemplary actions act as a deterrent and help in maintaining discipline."

He also indicated that more such cases were "in the process."

Bureau Report