Kurien not ready to call it a day yet

The threat came from the assistant charity commissioner’s office that questioned his status as a lifetime chairman when IRMA’s memorandum of association was sent to him for ratification in 2004. He ratified everything else but referring to the rule that made Kurien the lifetime chairman and said: ‘‘It’s not in the interest of a public institution to have a lifetime chairman.’’

The appellate authority stayed the assistant commissioner’s order and will hold further hearing on Monday but sensing further trouble, Kurien has filed a caveat each in a Nadiad court and the Gujarat High Court, just in case his opponents moved the courts to seek his removal.

The MoA was sent for ratification only because a board member, reportedly owing allegiance to NDDB chairman Dr Amrita Patel, questioned Kurien’s lifetime chairmanship at a meeting. This caps his infamous battle with Patel, once his trainee and now his most bitter rival. Six years ago, he was replaced by Patel as head of NDDB, which, incidentally, funds IRMA.

Kurien has headed IRMA since its inception in 1979. But his illustrious past is unlikely to come to his rescue as the 15-member IRMA board is divided over his move to sack IRMA director Prof K. Prathap Reddy. Reddy began to resent Kurien’s interference in routine matters and the fight took a turn for the worse in December when Kurien charged Reddy with ‘‘impropriety.’’ Reason: Reddy had approved extended training for two IRMA faculty members at IIMA.

Kurien realised the seriousness of the situation only in the February 28 board meeting which discussed Reddy’s sacking. Some members suggested Reddy be allowed to step down as a face-saver. When he found that not everyone supported him on the sacking, Kurien offered to step down. However, the board formed a sub-committee to investigate governance failure at IRMA and decide Reddy’s fate. The committee will also look into the implications of the assistant charity commissioner’s order. It will submit its report by March 31 and the board will meet on April 1 to decide Reddy’s fate.