ICHR deadlock: Chief alleges interference

Narayanan sent the letter from his home town in Calicut in response to two consecutive letters despatched to him by two bureaucrats of the HRD Ministry on October 30 and 31. Both letters had informed him that his appointment of Shukla as the acting member secretary was ‘‘ultra vires’’ and that disciplinary action as well as criminal proceedings could be started against him for continuing to handle the ICHR’s finances and administration.

Narayanan pointed out that he was in Delhi from October 13 to 19 and Kapil should have met him with his appointment letter from the HRD Ministry. He said the latter appeared at the ICHR office, whenever he was away, and started instructing people and issuing office orders.

Indicating that he had not adopted this collision course without provocation, the chairman argued that he had to appoint Shukla because Kapil did not report to him and he needed an official to handle the day-to-day administration.

The letter said ‘‘smooth and efficient working of the Council depends on coordination between the chairman and the member secretary’’. ‘‘It is undesirable on the part of the Ministry to nominate as member secretary a person who has always been making wild and baseless allegations against the former member secretary and the chairman and misbehaving in Council meetings. If the Ministry persists in this move, it will be held responsible for interfering with the autonomy of the Council.’’ he argued.