The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday decided to boycott proceedings in the Rajya Sabha for the entire day in protest against the passage of the bill fixing the age of retirement of the director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

Immediately after the Upper House met for the question hour, deputy leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Sushma Swaraj said that her party was boycotting the day's proceedings in the House in protest against the bill, passed on Wednesday, fixing the age of retirement of the AIIMS director at 65 years.

The party's decision came despite Chairman Hamid Ansari's assurance that the members could raise the matter after the question hour.

The passage of the Bill paves the way for the removal of present AIIMS Director P Venugopal, who has been at loggerheads with Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss.