HRD may ask Y Sudershan Rao to remain ICHR chief

Y SUDERSHAN Rao looks set to continue as chairman of Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) as the HRD Ministry is likely to respond to his resignation letter next week requesting him to stay on “as per the terms and conditions of employment”.

The decision, ministry sources said, was prompted by the “peculiar wording” of Rao’s letter in which he sought HRD Minister Smriti Irani’s permission to quit. “May I kindly be permitted to submit my resignation for the office of the Chairman, Indian Council Historical Research, Government of India, New Delhi, on personal grounds and request your good self to accept the same,” states the first paragraph of Rao’s letter dated November 24, 2015.

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“Who are we to give him the permission? This cannot be treated as his resignation. Hence, the question of acceptance or rejection of resignation does not arise,” said a ministry source. Rao was not available for comment.

Rao quit the post of chairman just 16 months into his term. He, however, continues to serve as the Council’s head and even chaired the meeting of its Governing Council on March 29.