A division bench of Madras High Court stayed the operation of a single-judge order, setting aside the re-appointment of Mr M S Ananth, as Director of Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M), giving a sigh of relief to the beleaguered academician.
On an appeal filed by Mr Ananth, the bench comprising acting Chief Justice S J Mugapadhya and Mr Justice K Danapalan, granted him, the interim relief, while posting the appeal for further hearing on January 23.
The single judge Mr Justice K Chandru had on December 23, set aside the re-appointment of Mr Ananth, who had retired from service, on attaining the age of superannuation for a further period of five years, on the ground that his re-appointment was illegal.
Mr Justice Chandru had passed the order, while allowing a writ of quo warranto (on what authority Mr Ananth was holding the post) filed by Dr E Muralidharan, an IIT-M alumni.
The judge had said that though the IIT’s were founded by the Government and governed by an Act of the Parliament, it was rather shocking that for the post of director, no public notice was given inviting applications, thereby violating Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution.
When the appeal came up for hearing, Dr Muralidharan, who appeared as party in person, opposed to the interim order, staying the single judge’s order.
However, Additional Solicitor General Ravindran, appearing for the Centre and senior counsel Vijaya Narayanan, appearing for Mr Ananth gave an undertaking to the court that Mr Ananth would not make any appointment till the disposal of the appeal.
Recording this undertaking, the bench adjourned further hearing after ordering issue of notice to Dr Muralidharan and directing him to file the counter before January 23.
UNI
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