Observers believe that the new resolution is a major blow to Varghese Kurien as it was adopted by a majority of the 15-member board. The circular resolution was moved by one of the heavyweight members of the board.

Kurien and Reddy remained inaccessible for comments. Sources close to the anti-Kurien lobby said that the circular resolution was signed by seven prominent members of the Board including Amrita Patel, chairman of National Dairy Development Board, Hashmukh Shah, chairman of National Institute of Design and the former chairman of Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd [Get Quote].

It also inlcuded  Bakul Dholakia, director of Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad, Vijay Mahajan, managing director of Basix, V Ramachandran, head of Centre for Development Management, E Abraham, director of Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneshwar, and Neelima Khetan, head of the Udaipur-based NGO.

Though the identity of the eighth board members who supported the circular resolution was not been revealed, sources said that this member was earlier known to be close to Kurien. The resolution also has raised questions on credentials of the new acting-director, L K Vaswani.

"Dr V Kurien has terminated the services of Dr K Prathap Reddy, director of IRMA on April 7 and appointed Dr L K Vaswani as the acting director. Dr Kurien's actions are high-handed and illegal and non-est in terms of IRMA's Rules 4 and 8. Under Rule 4 of the power of general superintendence, direction and control of the affairs of the Society vests in the Board of Governors," the resolution says.

Kurien sacks director of IRMA

The resolution also says that under the Rule 8 of the IRMA constitution, the power to appoint the director, who automatically becomes member secretary of the Society and the Board, vests with the Board.

"IRMA Board, as you know, has not delegated any powers to the chairman and chairman's earlier effort vide his letter dated December 14, 2004, to remove Reddy through a circular resolution was opposed by the majority of the members. In utter disregard of the majority view and without waiting for the outcome of the judicial process initiated by him, he has taken action to remove the director which, therefore, is malafide, illegal and non-est in law."

Criticising Vaswani, Kurien's choice for acting-director, the board said in the resolution that Vaswani had earlier wrote to P A Joseph, executive assistant to Kurien, asking him to give double promotion with four advance increments to one of his assistants.

"As you know, Kurien ordered the director to give double promotion and increments to that person. Reddy withstood all pressure from Kurien and Joseph, which has irked both of them. Dr Vaswani is not the senior most faculty, after having left IRMA for a couple of years in early '90s and then having a break in service in 2002 as he failed to execute a project for Nabard within the stipulated deadline. And following the adverse comments in the Board, Vaswani was given a break in service in 2002," the Resolution alleged.

Vaswani and Joseph were not available for comments.