New Delhi : The Institute Body of AIIMS today selected three names for the post of the Director of the premier institute which will be forwarded to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) headed by the Prime Minister for final selection.

The three AIIMS doctors recommended for the top job in the premier institute, are HOD of paediatrics Dr V K Paul, HOD of pulmonary medicine and sleep disorder Dr Randeep Guleria, Cardiology Professor Dr Balram Bhargava.

In a meeting held today at the Nirman Bhawan, the Institute Body,the top decision making body of AIIMS, headed by Union Health Minister J P Nadda selected three from the list of five names shortlisted in its final meeting.

"These three names will now be sent to the ACC which will give the final nod after completing its formal procedures," a senior government official said.

According to sources, the selection-cum-search panel led by Union Health Secretary C K Mishra in its last meeting on January 24 had in addition to Paul, Guleria and Bhargava also shortlisted HoD of ENT Dr S C Sharma and Director of National Brain Research Centre (NBRC), Manesar Dr Subrata Sinha for the post.

AIIMS had last month recommended a search-cum-selection committee headed by Union Health Minister J P Nadda which was rejected by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).

The PMO had then ordered reconstitution of the search panel based on DoPT guidelines.

53 eminent doctors, including 35 from outside AIIMS, have applied for the post.

The current Director of AIIMS Dr M C Mishra is slated to retire on January 31.