Kerala High Court Stays Suo Motu Case Against Son Of Ex-CM VS Achuthanandan

The Kerala High Court on Thursday stayed the operation of a single judges order to initiate suo motu proceedings against Dr. V A Arun Kumar, son of ex Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, regarding his appointment as Director -in-charge of the Institute of Human Resource Development (IHRD).

A Division Bench comprising Justice Anil K Narendran and Justice Muralee Krishnan S granted the stay noting that Dr. Arun Kumar was not given an opportunity to be heard before the single-judge.

The suo motu was initiated while hearing another petition filed by Dr. Vinu Thomas, Dean at APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, who had challenged IHRD's denial of access to certain audit documents related to a charge memo against him. During the hearing counsel for the respondent in the appeal orally submitted that Dr. Arun Kumar lacked necessary qualifications, and had entered the service of IHRD as a Clerk, thereafter rising to the position of Director only on account of his political influence.

The Counsel for the appellant submitted that the learned Single Judge, accepted the oral allegations without calling for response of the appellant who was not impleaded by name in the petition before the single judge and directed the Registry to register a Public Interest Litigation, suo motu.

The Counsel for appellant submitted that Dr. Arun Kumar possesses a Master Degree in Computer Application, Bachelor Degree in law, Diploma in Cyber Law, Masters degree in Business law and a PhD and has been serving IHRD since 1997. He was initially appointed as Assistant Director (Software) in IHRD and got promoted based on existing service rules. He further argued that the remarks against him were unwarranted and unrelated to the original petition, which dealt with Di Vin Thomas's access to audit documents.

Division bench observed that the single judge's order prima facie violated the principles of natural justice and granted the interim stay.

Case Title - Dr V A Arunkumar v Dr Vinu Thomas and Ors

Case No - WA 1692/ 2025

Counsel for Appellant - Vivek Menon, Rance R

Counsel for Respondent- Babu Joseph Kuruvathazha, M Rajagopalan Nair