HC to hear Kurien's plea today

The divisional bench of the Gujarat High Court will hear an appeal filed by Verghese Kurien, chairman, Institute of Rural Management-Anand (Irma) on Thursday.

The bench took the decision on Tuesday. Kurien had appealed to quash an order made by justice Akil Kureshi reinstating K Prathap Reddy as director of Irma.

Meanwhile, a two-judge bench constituted by justice G S Singhvi and justice Anand Dave of the Gujarat High Court has continued the stay on order by Justice Kureshi. It may be mentioned that justice Kureshi had ordered last month to reinstate Reddy as a director of Irma.

Later, justice Kureshi had stayed the order till May 5 on a plea by Kurien.

Meanwhile, advocates of Kurien and Irma Society whom Reddy has challenged for his termination had filed an appeal before the divisional bench of the Gujarat High Court on Monday.

According to legal experts, the ruling of the divisional bench would prove crucial for the stake holders in the Irma controversy.

Reddy has not been able to resume his duties as a director due to the legal hassle.

However, Reddy has been able to continue his stay in Irma director bungalow. Kurien, in the termination letter issued on April 7, has ordered Reddy to vacate the Irma campus in a week's time.

Meanwhile, in another case where B M Vyas, Irma board member and managing director of Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation, has challenged the ruling of the joint charity commissioner Vadodara will be heard by the Gujarat High Court.

The court will meet on May 10 for further hearing on Vyas' plea.