Soon after the decision of the high court was made public, Venugopal said: 'Satyamev Jayate (Truth Will Prevail). I am looking forward to maintaining the autonomy of the institute for which I have fought.'

Venugopal, a renowned cardiologist, had moved the court following the AIIMS governing body's decision Wednesday to recommend his removal on charges of violating the code of conduct.

The court said: 'The decision of the AIIMS governing body, recommending the termination of Venugopal's services, is stayed and the government is restrained from taking any decision on the recommendation.'

Jubilant medical students welcomed the court order.

'(Health Minister Anbumani) Ramadoss' personal enmity with our director led to the current problem and his interference in the AIIMS must be restricted,' Anil Sharma, a senior resident doctor in the institute, said, adding the minister should quit in view of the court order.

But the doctors had to face the wrath of the people - mostly poor- many of whom who had come to Delhi for treatment from long distances.

During the day over 100 relatives of patients staged a rally outside the hospital, saying the controversy between doctors and the government was causing them hardships.

'My sister is under treatment for cancer at AIIMS, but doctors told me to take her home,' said P. Kumar who has come here from Jehanabad of Bihar.

'Doctors are now only concerned about their own interests and it seems patients are no more their priority,' added Kumar.

Ashwini Yadav from Patna lamented: 'I am here since Wednesday evening to get my son admitted for treatment of his stomach tumour. But neither senior doctors nor resident medicos are in a mood to listen to me.

'Since four doctors are on the hunger strike, why can't others join work? Thousands of patients like me are coming to AIIMS just for the sake its reputation and low charges but when doctors are not treating patients, what is the value of reputation?' Yadav asked.

Earlier, former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urging him to intervene in the matter.

Meanwhile, police clashed with striking doctors at the AIIMS campus earlier Friday and destroyed tents erected in the central lawns of the institute for the four doctors who were on a hunger strike.