A day after Fortis Healthcare (Fortis) sacked the high profile executive director of Escorts Heart Institute and renowned cardiologist Naresh Trehan, the Delhi High Court permitted him to carry out his duties as usual.
Stating this, Trehan's family members said the court has directed that the hospital will run normally and Trehan and his team of doctors will be allowed to carry out their routine function in the hospital. The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for August 6, they added.
The Delhi high court directive came in response to a petition moved by Anil Nanda, a member of the Delhi Society, which owned the assets of the hospital before its amalgamation into Escorts Heart Institute and Research Center.
Nanda, younger brother of Rajan Nanda, who had sold 90 per cent stake in Escorts to Fortis in 2005, has been a staunch opponent of this transaction and has also moved the Delhi High Court against the validity of the Fortis takeover.
Meanwhile, dismissal of Trehan turned messy with both Trehan and the Fortis management engaging in mudslinging.
Trehan, who claimed to have entered the hospital premises after being compelled by about 100 patients and their relatives, was accused of forcing his way in.
Fortis has filed an FIR against Trehan and his supporters alleging vandalism.
Hitting back at the Fortis management, Trehan said the company has no right to terminate his services. Claiming that his contract allows him to be part of Escorts Heart Institute till 2010, Trehan termed the attempts to keep him away from patients as inhuman, unethical and against patient-interest.
Rebutting the allegations, Fortis Managing Ddirector Shivinder Mohan Singh said the company had all rights to terminate Trehan's administrative powers. "There is no contract between Trehan and the present company.
Trehan's contract was with the charitable society which was disbanded to form the current company in 2000. His services as an administrator remains terminated while he will have the right to see his existing patients," Singh said.
While Trehan said that the "conflict of interest" arising out of his plans to set up a world-class Medicity project has no basis, Singh alleged that Trehan, while being part of Escorts Heart Institute, was not only involved in building up a rival venture, but had also attempted to weaken the ongoing cases against Fortis by indirectly supporting the petitioner Anil Nanda.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Medical Association has expressed its deep concern over the unceremonious ouster of Trehan and cautioned against corporatisation of charitable institutions.
