HC issues contempt notice to former ISRO chief

NAINITAL: Uttarakhand High Court today issued contempt notice to former ISRO chief K Kasturirangan and a top central government official for not following its directive to review the extension of two years given to ARIES Director.

Kasturirangan chairs the Nainital based Aryabhata Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES).

Hearing a PIL, Justice Sudhanshu Dhuliya ordered contempt notices be issued to Kasturirangan and Secretary to government of India, Department of Science and Technology, Thirumalachari Ramasami, for ignoring its earlier order asking them to review the extension given to the ARIES Director Ramsagar.

Ramsagar is facing charges of irregularities in recent appointments at the institute.

In an order dated April 16, the court had ordered review of service extension given to Ramasagar after superannuation within 30 days, Bhagwat Mehra, counsel to the petitioner said.

The institute's efforts to seek relief from the Supreme Court were turned down by the apex court on May 9, he said.

The institute today sought 6 months more time from the high court to review the service extension which was termed as "thoroughly misconceived" by the court and contempt notices were issued.

One of the counsels representing the Governing Council of ARIES, said its petition seeking six months' more time to reconsider the service extension given to Ramsagar as the Institute's Director has been rejected by the high court.

D N Bhatt, a social worker, had filed a PIL alleging irregularities in the recent appointments of scientists in the institute and in the award of various tenders by it.

ARIES is one of the leading research institutes in the country, which specialises in observational astronomy, astrophysics and atmospheric sciences.

The Uttarakhand High Court has already given direction to CBI to file an FIR against Ramsagar and investigate the allegations.