Kerala removes VS Achuthanandan's son as IHRD Director after court scrutiny
Synopsis
The Kerala government has ousted V.A. Arun Kumar — son of former CM V.S. Achuthanandan — as IHRD Director after the High Court took suo motu cognisance and questioned whether he ever met the UGC's seven-year teaching experience requirement. The move ends a three-year tenure that critics called a textbook case of political patronage overriding merit in public institutions.
Key Takeaways
Arun Kumar , son of former Kerala CM V.S.
Achuthanandan , has been removed as IHRD Director on 7 July .
Rajesh , Principal of IHRD College of Engineering, Poonjar , has been appointed the new Director.
The Kerala High Court took suo motu cognisance last June , ordering an inquiry into Arun Kumar's eligibility and alleged political influence in his appointment.
The court noted the IHRD Director's role is equivalent to a university Vice-Chancellor, requiring at least 7 years of teaching experience under 2018 UGC Regulations .
Arun Kumar had previously received a clean chit from a Vigilance Court over an earlier appointment as Assistant Director during the E.K.
Nayanar government's tenure.
The Kerala government has removed V.A. Arun Kumar, son of former Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, from the post of Director of the Institute of Human Resources Development (IHRD) in Thiruvananthapuram, ending a three-year tenure clouded by eligibility disputes and High Court intervention. The decision, announced on 7 July, closes one of the more prolonged controversies in Kerala's higher education administration in recent years.
New Director Appointed
Prof. M.V. Rajesh, Principal of the IHRD College of Engineering, Poonjar, and an alumnus of IHRD, has been named the new Director. Rajesh steps into a role that Arun Kumar had held as Director-in-Charge for the past three years, a period marked by persistent legal challenges to the legitimacy of the appointment.
Why the Appointment Drew Fire
Arun Kumar's elevation triggered widespread criticism and multiple petitions before the Kerala High Court, with petitioners questioning whether he met the qualifications prescribed for the post. Taking suo motu cognisance, the High Court last June ordered an inquiry into his eligibility and whether political connections had allowed him to bypass prescribed norms.
The court noted that the IHRD Director's post is equivalent in stature to that of a university Vice-Chancellor. Under the 2018 University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations, candidates must hold a minimum of seven years of teaching experience. The bench expressed explicit doubt over whether Arun Kumar met this bar, and directed investigators to examine whether political influence had facilitated the appointment — remarking that elevating someone from a clerical post to a Vice-Chancellor-equivalent position was 'highly unusual.'
The observations arose from a petition filed by Dr Vinu Thomas, former Principal of the Model Engineering College, Thrikkakara, and currently Dean of Kerala Technical University.
A Pattern of Legal Scrutiny
This is not the first time Arun Kumar's career trajectory at IHRD has faced legal challenge. His earlier appointment as Assistant Director of IHRD and a subsequent promotion — both made during the tenure of the E.K. Nayanar-led Left government — were similarly contested. In that instance, a Vigilance inquiry concluded the appointments conformed to prescribed norms, the Vigilance Court accepted the closure report, and Arun Kumar was also acquitted by a special court in Thiruvananthapuram in related proceedings.
What This Means for IHRD
The removal brings to a close a period of institutional uncertainty at IHRD, a body that oversees technical education and human resource development across Kerala. With Prof. Rajesh now at the helm, the institution is expected to move past the governance questions that have shadowed it. Whether the government's decision pre-empts a formal court ruling or follows informal pressure from the judiciary remains to be seen, and observers will watch whether eligibility norms are more rigorously applied in future appointments to equivalent posts.
Point of View
But the Director-level post carries a categorically higher bar under UGC rules. The real accountability question is not just whether Arun Kumar qualified, but why the appointing authority cleared him if the court found the eligibility case so doubtful — and whether anyone in that chain faces consequences.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was V.A. Arun Kumar removed as IHRD Director?
Arun Kumar was removed after the Kerala High Court took suo motu cognisance and ordered an inquiry into whether he met the eligibility criteria for the post, specifically the seven-year teaching experience requirement under 2018 UGC Regulations. The court also directed investigators to examine whether political influence had played a role in his appointment.
Who is the new IHRD Director?
Prof. M.V. Rajesh, Principal of the IHRD College of Engineering at Poonjar and an alumnus of IHRD, has been appointed the new Director, replacing Arun Kumar.
What qualifications are required for the IHRD Director post?
The Kerala High Court noted that the IHRD Director's post is equivalent to a university Vice-Chancellor. Under the 2018 UGC Regulations, candidates must have a minimum of seven years of teaching experience to be eligible for the appointment.
Has Arun Kumar faced legal challenges before?
Yes. His earlier appointment as Assistant Director of IHRD and a subsequent promotion, both made during the E.K. Nayanar-led Left government, were also legally challenged. A Vigilance inquiry cleared him, the Vigilance Court accepted the closure report, and a special court in Thiruvananthapuram acquitted him in related proceedings.
Who filed the petition that triggered the High Court's intervention?
The petition was filed by Dr Vinu Thomas, former Principal of the Model Engineering College, Thrikkakara, and currently Dean of Kerala Technical University, questioning Arun Kumar's eligibility for the IHRD Director post.
