Ranchi, April 22: Jharkhand High Court today issued a notice to Union human resource development minister Arjun Singh questioning the removal of M.K. Banerjee, the former director of National Institute of Foundry and Forge Technology (NIFFT).
The court, while hearing the petition filed by Banerjee, directed him to implead Singh as a party in the case.
Banerjee has challenged his removal from the office of NIFFT director and also questioned the appointment of his predecessor and former Indian School of Mines University director Tarkeshwar Kumar.
Banerjee, in his petition, stated that he was appointed as a director of NIFFT in 2006 for a five-year period. Banerjee was removed unceremoniously before the expiry of his term, which he has alleged to be a result of “political pressure” and “personal interest” of the Union minister.
Banerjee’s removal from office has been made after prior approval of the Appointment Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). The office of the Prime Minister controls the ACC, which is also responsible for the appointment of Kumar as the new NIFFT director.
Students of the institute believe that Banerjee’s removal was a conspiracy hatched at the level of the Union ministry of human resource development under the influence of one of the senior members of the NIFFT Board of Governors (BoG).
Arguing on the behalf of the technical institute, its counsels said Banerjee was transferred as a routine administrative function. He was directed to join the Bengal technical education cadre, which was his original posting.
Banerjee has already been relieved from his present posting as director, NIFFT, and has also joined his new place of posting in Calcutta, the counsels said.
Banerjee’s removal from office has sparked off tension in the premier technical institute with students going on a rampage to protest his termination.
Students of the institute have abstained from classes and have staged dharnas and demonstrations demanding an immediate recall of Banerjee’s transfer order.
The counsels for the institute argued that since Banerjee has alleged political interference and pressure from the Union minister in his removal, the minister should also be made a party in the case.
The high court after hearing the matter issued a notice to the Union HRD minister directing him to file a reply in the case.
OUR CORRESPONDENT
Wednesday , April 23 , 2008
www.telegraphindia.com
About Me
- Kamal Kumar Pandey (Adv. Supreme Court of India)
- Lawyer Practising at Supreme Court of India. Court Experience: Criminal, Civil & PIL (related to Property, Tax, Custom & Duties, MVAC, insurance, I.P.R., Copyrights & Trademarks, Partnerships, Labour Disputes, etc.) Socio-Legal: Child Rights, Mid Day Meal Programme, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan, Women Rights, Against Female Foeticide, P.R.Is, Bonded Labour, Child labour, Child marriage, Domestic violence, Legal Literacy, HIV/AIDS, etc. Worked for Legal Aid/Advise/Awareness/Training/Empowerment/Interventions/Training & Sensitisation.
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