The Kerala government has ousted V.A. Arun Kumar, son of former Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, from his position as Director of the Institute of Human Resources Development (IHRD). This decision follows controversy surrounding his eligibility for the role. Prof. M.V. Rajesh, the Principal of IHRD College of Engineering at Poonjar, has been appointed as the new Director, succeeding Arun Kumar.
Arun Kumar had been serving as Director-in-Charge for the past three years. His appointment had faced significant backlash, leading to numerous petitions before the Kerala High Court questioning his qualifications for the position. The High Court, considering the matter, ordered an inquiry into Arun Kumar’s eligibility and potential political influence in his appointment process.
The court highlighted that the post of IHRD Director is comparable to a university Vice-Chancellor position. It emphasized that as per the 2018 University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations, a candidate must have at least seven years of teaching experience to qualify for the role. Doubts were raised regarding whether Arun Kumar met these requirements.
Additionally, the court instructed the investigation to explore the role of political influence in Arun Kumar’s appointment. It noted the irregularity of appointing someone from a clerical background to a position equivalent to a university Vice-Chancellor. The court’s directives stemmed from a petition filed by Dr. Vinu Thomas, a former Principal and current Dean of Kerala Technical University.
Arun Kumar’s appointment history had faced legal challenges previously. His earlier appointment as Assistant Director of IHRD and subsequent promotion under the E.K. Nayanar-led Left government had also been contested. However, a Vigilance inquiry in that instance concluded that the appointments were made in adherence to the stipulated norms. Arun Kumar received clearance from the Vigilance Court and was acquitted by a special court in Thiruvananthapuram.
The recent decision by the Kerala government marks the end of a prolonged controversy surrounding the leadership of the higher education institution.
