This story is from August 4, 2015

Centre relieves NIOT chief, says time up

National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) director M A Atmanand has been removed from the post.
Centre relieves NIOT chief, says time up
CHENNAI: National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) director M A Atmanand has been removed from the post. Weathering a legal storm, he had remained at the helm of the Chennai-based institute for more than eight months after his five-year term ended in October 2014.
The ministry of earth sciences had granted Atmanand a second extension till October 2015, but on July 30 "relieved" him after the appointments committee of cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister refused approval.
Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Sciences (INCOIS) director Satheesh C Shenoi will hold the additional charge of NIOT director.
Atmanand, who remains a scientist with NIOT, has thrown his hat again in the ring as the ministry has called for fresh applications for the post and Tuesday is the last day to apply. NIOT, with the stated mission of developing world-class technologies and applications for sustainable utilisation of ocean resources, is one of the ten institutes under the ministry.
Atmanand has been locked in a legal battle with his predecessor S Kathiroli, who challenged his elevation as Scientist-G, as also the extensions he got as the NIOT director in October 2014 and April 2015. The ministry had on both the occasions cleared his extension, but the second time the appointments committee put its foot down.
MOES secretary Shailesh Nayak said Atmanand's removal has nothing to do with the allegations against him. "Anyway his was a five-year appointment. After his first extension, we were to appoint a director, but the ministry could not complete this task on time. We've called for applications," Naik told TOI.
Kathiroli in 2010 challenged Atmanand's appointment in the Madras high court, arguing that he was not a 'scientist-G,' which he said was a prerequisite for the post. The Madras high court dismissed his petition in 2011, forcing the former director to approach the Supreme Court. The apex court also dismissed it.
Kathiroli said he challenged the elevation of Atmanand as 'scientist-G' because it was done two years after his appointment as the director, and notified only in April this year.
Atmanand said he was selected through due process. "The ministry gave me the additional charge of the director after my tenure ended. As for Kathiroli's contention that my 'scientist-G' grade is illegal, I have the ministry's letter to prove my credentials." He said, as an eligible candidate, he has applied for the post again.
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