Thiruvananthapuram: The official who spearheaded the mission to carry parcels from the Centre for Advanced Printing and Training (C-apt) has been appointed in a top position in LBS Centre violating norms.
Former head of C-apt M Abdul Rahman is appointed as the director of LBS Centre soon after the parcel controversy. Minister K T Jaleel promoted Abdul Rahman, who was a UDF minister's personal staff, despite disagreements from Left organisations.
Abdul Rahman, who was an assistant professor, was appointed in 2019 eliminating even an IIT professor. The Department of Higher Education stated in a reply to an RTI application that the criteria for the appointment was changed as directed by the minister.
According to the rules of LBS, professors from government engineering colleges should be appointed as principal. 12 candidates including IIT professors and government engineering college principals had applied for the post.
However, K T Jaleel intervened and issued a new notification for appointing teachers of LBS colleges in the post of principal. Even after being promoted as principal, Abdul Rahman continued as the head of C-apt.
