Dispute over IISER director's selection

Thiruvananthapuram: Prof. Veerbahu Ramakrishnan, director of Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Thiruvananthapuram,  is not qualified for the post, according to a letter supposedly written by the faculty members and submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “His appointment was  politically influenced by the then MHRD Minister of State, Mr Shashi Tharoor, through Prof V. K. Vaidyan, one of the selection committee members,” the letter says.

Prof. Vaidyan, who was part of the search-cum-selection committee, had collaborated with Prof.  Ramakrishnan for research publications since 1987. One of it was published during the selection process. If this turns out to be true,  it is a case of conflict of interest, it says. As per the letter, the scientific reputation of other shortlisted candidates, who were from IIT Chennai  and Kanpur, was far higher than that of Prof Ramakrishnan. The letter also alleges nepotism.  Prof.  Ramakrishnan had allegedly ousted consultants, and the posts were filled by his acquaintances from Madurai Kamaraj University, where he was a faculty.  

The letter bears no signature, and is dated January 2015. BJP spokesperson J.R. Padmakumar said that the Ministry of Human Resource Development was  conducting an inquiry. The director’s appointment was but one of the many alleged irregularities, according to Mr A. Sampath, MP of Attingal. “Many other allegations have come to my notice. If at all there is any corruption or discrepancy, it should not be allowed. IISER Thiruvananthapuram should become the best  in the country,” he said.