New Delhi: Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has cancelled the decision to keep the services for outdoor patients closed till 2:30 pm on January 22, media reports said.

The decision came after the decision sparked a public outcry, NDTV reported.

On Saturday, Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) had announced a half day on January 22 on the occasion of the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

However, the emergency and all critical services had not been shut for the period.

Rajya Sabha MP and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi had hit out at the move with a sarcastic post on X. "Hello humans, Please don't go into a medical emergency on 22nd, and if you do schedule it for post 2pm since AIIMS Delhi is taking time off to welcome Maryada Purushottam Ram," she had posted. "PS: However, wonder if Lord Ram would agree that health services are disrupted to welcome him. Hey Ram, Hey Ram!," she added.

Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale, too, criticised the move yesterday. "India's largest Government Hospital AIIMS Delhi will remain closed till 2:30 pm on Monday. There are literally people sleeping outside in the cold at AIIMS gates waiting for an appointment. The poor and dying can wait because priority is given to Modi's desperation for cameras and PR," Mr Gokhale posted on X.

In a notice, AIIMS Delhi said, “The Government of India has declared January 22 (Monday) half-day closing till 14.30 as Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha at Ayodhya will be celebrated across India.”

“It is notified for the information of all employees that the institute will remain half-closed until 14:30 hours on January 22,” it added.

All chiefs of Centres, Heads of Departments, Units and Branch Officers are requested to bring this to the attention of all staff working under them, it said.