VS’s son removed from IHRD top post

T’puram: V A Arunkumar, the son of former CM V S Achuthanandan, who was given the additional charge of IHRD director around three years ago, was removed from the post. M V Rajesh, the principal of IHRD’s College of Engineering in Poonjar, was named the new director.Several petitions were filed against the previous LDF govt’s decision to give him the additional charge, alleging that it violated norms. Following such complaints, HC had registered a suo moto case and wanted to know if his appointment was due to his political connections.HC had observed that IHRD’s director post was akin to a university VC post. As per UGC norms (2018), a vice-chancellor must be a distinguished academic with 10 years of experience as a professor at a university.

Alternatively, he should have 10 years of experience in a reputed research/academic administrative organization, along with proven academic leadership. HC had observed that govt’s decision to appoint Arunkumar, despite him having no teaching experience or research experience, was strange.Sources said govt decided to remove Arunkumar to ensure merit. He will continue as the additional director. Meanwhile, Arunkumar, in a social media post, claimed that successive govts denied him the director’s post, despite being a qualified candidate. He also claimed technical loopholes help govts exercise their political will in the appointment of IHRD director.