IISER Thiruvananthapuram registrar's posting flouts rules

Thiruvananthapuram: The authorities of IISER-Thiruvananthapuram have flouted norms in the appointment of its registrar, reveals the reply to an RTI query. The recruitment notification had asked for 15 years of administrative experience, of which eight years should be as a deputy registrar or an equivalent post in the Grade Pay of Rs 7,600 and above.

But an RTI query to NIT Calicut says that M. Radhakrishnan, the current registrar, entered the Grade Pay of Rs 7,600 on June 11, 2009. At the time of appointment, he would have only had four years in the relevant Grade Pay.   The director makes the appointments in the institute and this happened to be the first appointment since V. Ramakrishnan took charge as director.

His appointment too is mired in controversy, as a candidate had sent a letter to the MHRD alleging impropriety in the process. DC repeatedly tried getting the director on the phone to understand his position on the registrar’s appointment, and if there was any reason for relaxing the norms. His office told us each time that he was not available. Finally, we wrote a mail to him.

The reply to it was given by the registrar, not the director. The mail says, “I am directed to convey that the appointment of the registrar of this institute was based on the recommendation of the screening and selection committee constituted for the purpose and in line with the guidelines /directives of  MHRD.”

He adds, “As per records, the incumbent registrar  is having more than 15 years of Administrative experience in various gov establishments / institutions. Prior to the assignment with IISERTVM, the incumbent registrar was employed with NIT Calicut (a centrally funded Institution similar to IISER under MHRD) as dy registrar from 11.06.2004 onwards.” However, the RTI reply says that his Grade Pay was not '7,600, until 2009.