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The chairman of the Institute of Rural Management-Anand, Verghese Kurien, in a sudden move, on Thursday sacked the director of the institute, K Prathap Reddy, and sealed his office.
Kurien himself is under fire with government officials and some members of the board questioning his chairmanship. Some of them have termed the move unconstitutional.
Reddy is slated to appear before the Gujarat high court on Friday, as he had earlier filed a petition seeking quashing of an order issued by a civil court in Anand. However, with the termination of his position, Reddy's locus standi in court comes under a cloud.
"His services as director of the IRMA have been terminated," Kurien told Business Standard in Anand and refused to comment any further.
Reddy said: "I have learnt from my colleagues in the IRMA about the development and I am yet to see the order. I cannot comment any further on the issue till I am back in Anand."
Kurien has nominated a faculty member to take charge as an acting director, till a replacement is found.
A board member said: "This is an unconstitutional move by Kurien and not expected from a person like him. The move comes even as under Kurien's chairmanship at the meeting held on February 28, a search committee was constituted to find a replacement of Reddy, whose term was slated to be over in August."