HR problem at ICHR turns messy when left turns right, right left

Sounds confusing? To make things clearer, here is the sequence:

•In June 2001, HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi handpicked Calicut-based historian M G S Narayanan as ICHR chairman for three years. Narayanan’s views are clear: in his latest newsletter, he slams Marxist historians, advocates that ‘‘all Indians undertake a course on Indian culture.’’

• But it was the same Narayanan who, on September 26, named deputy director P K Shukla as ‘‘acting member-secretary’’ when the job fell vacant. The ICHR member-secretary is the point person for its day-to-day functioning. Shukla, by the way, is known for his critical stand against ‘‘saffronisation.’’

• On October 7, Kapil Kumar, one of the 27 members of the ICHR council and an IGNOU professor was named by Joshi as the ‘‘acting member-secretary.’’ This was startling to all since in 1998, Kumar was one of those who protested the very formation of the BJP govt.

But circumstances alter cases. Ever since he joined the ICHR, Kumar has been turning right—taking on Irfan Habib and even Narayanan at meetings.

Now ICHR faces the awkward situation of having two vying for the job of ‘‘acting member-secretary.’’

With Joshi’s backing, Kumar is digging his heels in. And today, being salary day—the acting member-secretary issues paycheques—he walked into office armed with a letter from the Ministry giving him all financial powers and, what’s more significant, ordering ‘‘criminal proceedings’’ and ‘‘disciplinary action’’ against Shukla.

One problem: Shukla had already issued the cheques.

From Calicut, Narayanan told The Indian Express that he had sent a reply to the HRD letter. ‘‘I can’t divulge the details but I stand by the council’s autonomy. I will not quit and give in,’’ he said.

When contacted, Shukla said: ‘‘I issued the cheques as per the directive from the chairman.’’

Kumar wasn’t impressed: ‘‘Narayanan is acting in a high-handed manner.’’

Sources said Joshi had summoned Narayanan last week and asked him to accept Kumar. Obviously, those words have gone unheard.

As per statutes, ICHR enjoys autonomy but the HRD Ministry can intervene only in exceptional circumstances.

Footnote: Guess who Narayanan has named as the permanent member-secretary? B R Mani, the man who supervised the ASI excavation in Ayodhya. Shukla isn’t protesting but Kumar says, ‘‘This is purposefully creating problems for Joshi.’’ As if Joshi didn’t have his own problems related to
Ayodhya.