HC to decide Reddy's fate today

The Gujarat High Court has reserved the ruling on K Prathap Reddy's petition challenging his dismissal as Irma director, for Wednesday.

Justice Akil Kureshi of the Gujarat High Court is expected to deliver a judgment on the case on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, both K Prathap Reddy and Varghese Kurien have filed new affidavits in the high court on Tuesday. They informed the court about the developments that took place on April 15, the day of convocation of Irma.

The counsel for Kurien, Keyur Gandhi said, "We have filed an affidavit in the high court explaining the business that was conducted in the meeting of board of governors of Irma on April 15. We have also submitted the copy of minutes of the meeting, to the HC.

Gandhi added that while the board was split equally on the decision to ratify the sacking of Irma director K Prathap Reddy, chairman V Kurien cast his vote in favour of Reddy being removed, paving the way for the board upholding his removal and appointment of L K Vaswani as the acting director.

But the affidavit filed by Reddy calls the April 15 ` illegal. The advocates of the petitioner have also charged Kurien with conducting the board meeting unlawfully by preventing three board members from attending the meeting.

"The defendants did not only kept three board members away from the proceedings but also conducted meeting without adequate quorum. As per the provisions contained in rule 16 (2) of rules of IRMA, a quorum for any meeting of board of governors of the institute shall be of one third of the total members of board of IRMA. At present, the strength of the board of governors of IRMA is admittedly 15 members and as a result at least five members would be required to constitute quorum for the meeting of board of governors of IRMA," said Dhaval Dave, an advocate for Reddy.