UDF govt removes V S Achuthanandan's son as IHRD director-in-charge

Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 7 (PTI) The UDF government in Kerala on Tuesday removed V A Arun Kumar, son of former Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, from the post of IHRD, an autonomous educational institution dedicated to scientific advancement and technological progress. According to officials, the State Higher Education Department appointed Prof (Dr) M V Rajesh, currently Principal of the College of Engineering, Poonjar, under the IHRD, as Director of the Institute of Human Resources Development (IHRD) until further orders. A senior government source said Rajesh had been appointed Director in place of Arun, who had been serving only as Director-in-Charge of the institute. "Now, we have found an eligible person to hold such an important post. Professor Rajesh is qualified to occupy the position, so there is no need for a Director-in-Charge," the source told PTI. Sources said Kumar was appointed Director-in-Charge three years ago during the CPI(M)-led LDF government's tenure. Complaints had alleged that his appointment was made by overlooking the prescribed eligibility criteria. It is learnt that the decision was taken at the political level by the leadership of the ruling Congress-led UDF. In March this year, the Kerala High Court dismissed a writ petition challenging Kumar's appointment as Director-in-Charge of the institute. PTI TGB ROH