‘No Govt was willing to give me deserved promotion’: Ousted IHRD head VA Arunkumar hits out

Thiruvananthapuram: Striking a defiant tone immediately after being removed from his post, former IHRD director-in-charge VA Arunkumar has publicly lashed out at successive state governments, claiming he was systematically denied a permanent promotion despite over three decades of dedicated service.

The Higher Education Department issued official order GO(Ms) No.471/2026/HEDN on Wednesday, replacing Arunkumar, the son of veteran former Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan, with Professor M V Rajesh, the current Principal of Poonjar Engineering College.

‘Weaponised loopholes’

Taking to Facebook just moments after the order went public, Arunkumar did not mince his words regarding the technicalities used to secure his departure. While admitting to the natural heartbreak any professional feels when their work is dismissed, he claimed that political bias, rather than merit, dictated his removal.
 

"It is a fact that despite working sincerely in various positions such as Principal and Additional Director over a long service spanning 32 years, no government was willing to grant me the permanent Director promotion I rightfully deserved," Arunkumar stated.

Arunkumar highlighted a glaring systemic flaw in how the state handles academic leadership, alleging that while promotions up to the level of Additional Director follow strict, transparent criteria, the top job is explicitly left vulnerable to political manipulation.

"The appointment of the Director is left completely to the political decisions of ruling governments, and those technical loopholes were repeated here as well," he wrote.

Despite the bitter exit, Arunkumar insisted he was stepping down with his head held high, pointing to his success in modernising the Institute of Human Resources Development (IHRD). "The knowledge that I was able to steer this great institution towards new scientific and technological advancements, creating a clear sense of direction in this sector in a short time, is the highest position of all."

Behind the shake-up

Arunkumar’s removal comes after a three-year stint as Director-in-Charge, a tenure heavily scrutinised by the High Court. Following multiple complaints regarding his eligibility, the High Court had taken suo motu action to probe whether political influence was used to fast-track his career from what began as a clerical post.

The court had previously observed that the IHRD Director post is equivalent to a university Vice-Chancellor, requiring at least seven years of teaching experience under the 2018 UGC norms, a qualification critics claimed Arunkumar lacked.