Condemning the signature campaign for removal of Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramdoss, a pro-reservation doctor's association on Sunday sought removal of AIIMS Director Dr P Venugopal and some senior doctors for allegedly being behind the agitation by medical students in Delhi against reservations for OBCs in higher education.

• The Reservation Issue

"The AIIMS director, superintendent and some faculty members of the institution instigated the anti-quota protests against 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in higher educational instutions and their jobs must be terminated immediately," general secretary of Doctors' Association for Social Equality Dr G R Ravindrananth told a press conference in Chennai.

On the demand by some Left organisations to exclude the creamy layer from the 27 per cent reservation and base it on economic criteria, he said DASE has requested the organisations to avoid such a demand as it could strengthen that by the anti-reservation groups and delay implementation of reservations.

The association, he said, also welcomed Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ramachandran's announcement that over 1,500 doctos selected through the state Public Service Commission would be appointed for filling up vacancies in government hospitals and that 1,700 doctors appointed on contract basis would be regularised.

Requesting the state government to avoid disturbing the contract doctors while appointing those selected through the TNPSC, Ravindranath said DASE wanted the government to regularise contract doctors from the date of appointment as temporary doctors for the purpose of seniority.