HC reinstates Reddy as director of Irma

Kurien's advocates appeal against court judgement

In a major set back to the camp of Verghese Kurien, chairman of the Institute or Rural Management Anand (Irma) and a great relief for K Prathap Reddy, dethroned director of the Institute, the High Court of Gujarat, has set aside the termination of Reddy from the chair of director of the institute and stated it as illegal.

Meanwhile, Kurien's advocates have appealed before the divisional bench of Justice G S Singhvi and D D Mazmudar of the High Court for a stay order, immediately after the judgement passed by the single judge.

Meanwhile, Reddy took over the charge of director office at Irma at 4:40 pm on Tuesday and circulated a note informing about the development in the High Court to the board members. However, Reddy could not access his chamber as it was locked.

Talking to Business Standard in the evening, Reddy whose term as director is coming to an end just after two days, on September 1, 2005 said, "The High Court judge has noted that institution like Irma should be used as temple of learning and not as a arena of political action. The High Court has also established in its ruling that Irma is being funded by various organisations and carrying public function of delivering education and that is why amenable to this jurisdiction. Following the court ruling I have take over the office where my chamber was closed but I have resumed my duties. My chamber was locked but I did not feel like opening it forcefully."

The high profile controversy that brought India's only rural management institute under dark clouds has reached to this point after passing through numerous junctures. P A Joseph, executive assistant to Kurien is also accused of adding fuel to the fire by interfering in day to day management of one of the most reputed institutes in India. Following the clash in Irma board room in February, the board members had divided equally.

The group of board members backing Reddy includes, Amrita Patel, chairman, National Dairy Development Board, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) director Bakul Dholakia, National Institute of Design (NID) governing council chairman Hasmukh Shah and Vijay Mahajan, who runs the country's best known micro-finance institute.

In later stage two of the government nominees had also expressed their displeasure over the ongoing battle in Irma. One of the Kurien's supporter, Sangramsingh Chawdhary who is also a former student of Irma had resigned from the board.

Presently, Kurien is being backed by two faculty members of the institute and B M Vyas, managing director, Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Limited.

Commenting on the ruling, Dhaval Dave, advocate for Reddy said, "In the present case, as held by the court, Kurien as chairman of board of Irma without consulting the board unilaterally terminated the appointment of Reddy as director of institute as if he is the appointing authority."

On the same basis the court also declared the action on the part of Kurien in purporting to appoint Dr Vaswani as the acting director of board as null and void.

The court also deprecated the conduct on the part of Kurien as chairman of board. The relationship between Kurien and Reddy is not a master-servant relationship hence Kurien is not the competent authority to terminate the director."

The advocate for Kurien said that they have appealed before the two judge divisional bench of the Gujarat High Court for stay on the order passed by Justice Shah.