The Madhya Pradesh High Court has given AIIMS Bhopal a "last opportunity" to submit its response in a petition challenging the appointment of 14 allegedly "ineligible" staff members in 2012.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice SK Kait and Justice Vivek Jain granted AIIMS Bhopal four weeks to file its reply after the institute sought additional time in the public interest litigation (PIL).

“The respondents who have not filed their reply to the petition are granted a final opportunity to do so within four weeks, failing which a cost of ₹10,000 each shall be imposed,” the bench stated on March 25.

Petitioner Prakash Chouksey, a Bhopal-based advocate and social worker, told PTI on Friday that he had sought the removal of 14 professors based on the findings of a three-member internal committee of AIIMS, which had deemed them ineligible for their posts.

“Despite complaints being made to AIIMS Delhi and other authorities, no action was taken against these appointments,” Chouksey alleged.

He further stated that he moved the High Court in 2019, but AIIMS Bhopal has yet to file its response despite multiple notices, the latest of which was served in January 2024.