order from the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Anbumani Ramadoss, the reason reported to be Venugopal's open criticism of the Union Government. The Health and Family Welfare ministry, it was reported, was not happy with Venugopal's handling of the quota issue where the Government planned to reserve 50 per cent of the university seats for the socially under-privileged, a move Venugopal was said to have countered using student sentiments. He moved to the Supreme Court and was reinstated for a period 45 days in summer vacation of 2008 before his retirement. The Ministry had appointed M. S. Valiathan, the noted cardiothoracic surgeon, to report on the functioning of AIIMS and make recommendations on improvements. Venugopal was reported to be unhappy about the Ministry's intervention in the functioning of AIIMS and contested the termination at the Supreme Court of India, by way of a writ petition, on which the Court passed an interim order on 7 July 2006, staying the termination, till the validity of the decision was assessed. After a protracted legal battle, the Supreme Court, reinstated Venugopal, on 8 April 2008., terming the Government act as malafide and unconstitutional. Positions Professor - All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi Head of the Department - All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi Chief - All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi Dean - All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi Director - All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi Member - Advisory Panel of Experts for Quality Assurances in Health Care - Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India Awards and recognitions Academic recognitions Gold Medal for the Best Undergraduate - All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi - 1963 Gold Medal for the Merit of First Order - All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi - 1967 Honoris Causa Doctor of Science (DSc) - Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences Honoris Causa Doctor of Science (DSc) - Rajasthan University of Health Sciences Social recognitions Padma Bhushan - Government of India - 1998 Dr. B. C. Roy Award All India Institute of Medical Sciences Lifetime Award for service of humanity - 2014 Sivananda Eminent Citizen Award - Sanathana Dharma Charitable Trust - 2010 Indira Priyadarsini Award - 1994 Goyal Prize - Kurukshetra University - 1994 Vijay Ratna Award - India International Friendship Society - 1994 Award of Excellence -