Law Minister A.K. Balan on Monday denied that he had bent rules to appoint four “unqualified” persons, including his private secretary, to high academic positions in the State-run Kerala Institute for Research, Training and Development Studies of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (KIRTADS).
He rebutted the allegation raised by general secretary of the Indian Muslim Youth League P.K. Firoz that the Minister had accorded a senior position to his private secretary Mani Bhushan, bypassing rules and tailoring proficiency requirements, to facilitate the appointment of favoured applicants in teaching positions.
Mr. Firoz told the media on Monday that the Minister used the government’s discretionary powers under Rule 39 of the Kerala State and Subordinate Service Rules, 1958, and appointed the four persons under probation on July 24, 2017.
Mr. Firoz had earlier raised a similar allegation of nepotism against Minority Welfare Minister K.T. Jaleel in connection with the appointment of his relative as general manager of the Kerala State Minority Development Finance Corporation.
Mr. Balan said Mr. Mani Bhushan had joined KIRTADS as a research assistant in 1993.
An interview board headed by the then Principal Secretary, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Welfare Department, had appointed him. He said there was no illegality in his appointment as lecturer.
