The Union Health Ministry has recommended the removal of Dr P Venugopal as the director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

Union Health Minister Dr Anbumani Ramadoss said, "The AIIMS governing body has decided to make a recommendation to the Government of India asking it to remove Dr Venugopal."

The decision comes on a day when the Delhi high court was hearing a writ petition that sought to restrain the Centre from removing Dr Venugopal from office.

Dr Ramadoss and Dr Venugopal have been at loggerheads over the latter's alleged soft stand towards the anti-reservation protestors.

Soon after the decision, doctors supporting Dr Venugopal went on a strike and staged a dharna. They were also seen sending off patients, saying they won't be treated.

"We have declared a strike. Resident doctors, students, scientists and faculty members have all gone on strike to protest the decision," said Dr Vinod Patra, a representative of the AIIMS Resident Doctors' Association.

He said Dr Ramadoss should take moral responsibility for the lives of 1800 patients in the hospital.