AIIMS director GK Singh and (above) his deputy Anil Kishore Yadav. Telegraph pictures

The dust appears to be settling in the ongoing power struggle at AIIMS, Patna. Its director, G.K. Singh, said he had made peace with deputy director (administration), Anil Kishore Yadav.

The AIIMS, Patna, director admitted to The Telegraph that differences between him and Yadav had been sorted out. “We didn’t want the premier health hub to suffer because of controversies, as this would discourage patients from coming here for treatment,” Singh said. But the deputy director (administration) refused comment. “I would not like to comment on this matter,” Yadav said.

Sources said the AIIMS director recently communicated to the ministry of health and welfare through a letter that everything was okay between him and his deputy.

“G.K. Singh recently wrote to the ministry stating that differences between him and Anil Kishore Yadav, deputy director (administration) at AIIMS, Patna, had been sorted out. In fact, Yadav, reportedly took the initiative of meeting the director after the controversy between them came to light. The duo met and discussed administration-related problems Yadav was facing. It is good that both have sorted out their issues. Had their tussle continued, it would have hampered the institute’s growth,” said a source at AIIMS, Patna.

The Telegraph had reported on October 11 about the growing differences between the director and deputy director (administration) on some policy issues. The deputy director had wanted to meet the director to discuss some policy matter but the director, instead of meeting him, had told him to write a formal letter. Yadav had then shot off a letter claiming he had not been given a fair hearing.

Singh had told The Telegraph that Yadav might have been upset with him over recruitment of a faculty member of the neuro-surgery department. The rules say the faculty member should be within the age bracket of 50 but the faculty who was hired was above that age.

Singh said on Thursday he was approachable and any official or faculty member of AIIMS, Patna, could meet him to discuss problems. “I still don’t know how he (Yadav) assumed that I am not approachable. Any official or faculty member can meet me to discuss problems.”

A faculty member said on condition of anonymity: “Since the last few days, everything seems to be normal between the two. Earlier, both used to hold varying views on policy-related issues but it now seems they are taking decisions together. It is good for the institute. The change might also have taken place because Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to inaugurate the hospital in January. Everyone is busy with the preparations. A dispute now would hamper the pace of work. The top officials don’t want that to happen.”