The Hindu Business Line : HC allows Reddy to continue as IRMA Director

IN A major setback to Dr Verghese Kurien, the Gujarat High Court on Tuesday upheld the plea of the Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA) Director, Prof K. Prathap Reddy, against his dismissal.

The court, however, granted a stay of its own order till May 2, giving Dr Kurien time to appeal against the order. Dr Kurien is the Chairman of IRMA.

"The boss is very disappointed. We were expecting some good news from the court but the judgment goes against us. We have 12 days, we shall see what we can do," a close aide of Dr Kurien told Business Line from Anand.

Prof Reddy said that he would try and attend office on Thursday. "The court granted whatever we had prayed for. My plea all along was that I was being restrained from attending office. I will try to go tomorrow. Let us see what the people who claim to uphold the law do now," he said.

Prof Reddy was sacked by Dr Kurien on April 7 and asked to surrender his house, car and other amenities. He was not allowed to attend the pre-convocation board meeting of the prestigious institute on April 15. He was not even invited to the convocation ceremony as a senior faculty member of IRMA.

"I had always maintained that the truth shall prevail. The truth has prevailed," Prof Reddy said.

In the interim judgment delivered on Wednesday, the Gujarat High Court has said that the termination of Prof Reddy was to be treated as "inoperative" and nobody can deny him to act as the Director of IRMA. It has also posted the matter for final hearing in mid-June, according to Mr Dhaval Dave, Prof Reddy's counsel.

The court has said that Dr Kurien did not have the authority to remove the Director. It has not approved of the manner in which he has been acting, Mr Dave said.

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