HC stays removal of RIMS director

Ranchi: The Jharkhand High Court today clamped a stay on the termination of Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) director Dr Rajkumar Rao.Holding the removal of the RIMS director to be "stigmatic", the court has directed the government to file a response in the matter.
Rao had moved an application before the High Court challenging his termination by the order of health minister, Irfan Ansari. Ansari had earlier this month on April 17 issued a letter directing immediate removal of Rao from his office as director of RIMS. Dr. Shashibala Singh has been ordered to be incharge director of RIMS by the government.
Rao in his petition before the High Court has stated that he has been removed from office without any reason. No letter to him by way of a show cause was issued by the minister or the health department before removing him from office.
Claiming prejudice at the hands of the government, Rao has stated that principles of natural justice have been violated and his removal from office is stigmatic.
The court of Justice Deepak Roshan, after hearing the petition filed by Rao directed the state government to file an affidavit in this regard.
The court while fixing the next date of hearing on May 6, further ordered the government to not implement and put in force the directive of the health minister through his letter by which Rao was removed from service.