Date:10/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/10/stories/2009011060090100.htm

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Order allowing plea challenging appointment of Ananth stayed

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Friday granted interim stay of the operation of a single Judge’s order allowing a petition challenging the appointment of M.S. Ananth as the Director of IIT-Madras.

The First Bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice S.J. Mukhopadhaya and Justice V. Dhanapalan, while ordering notice on appeals filed against the single Judge’s order, posted the matter for January 23.

It stayed the single Judge’s order until further orders.

In his writ petition, E. Muralidharan had challenged Dr. Ananth’s appointment on the ground that he had not been appointed as per the provisions of the Institutes of Technology Act. Prior approval of the Visitor had not been obtained.

In his appeal, Dr. Ananth submitted that the alleged grounds had no legal or factual basis. He was qualified to hold the post.

He said his suitability was assessed by the Selection Committee of the IIT council to its satisfaction and approved by the President, who was the Visitor of the institute, following established procedure.

It was in accordance with the Act, rules and the statutes of Indian IITs, which had been consistently followed in matters of appointment of Directors to all IITs in the country.