The Supreme Court dismissed the scientist’s plea challenging his dismissal from ISRO service, saying the space agency was justified in suspecting his honesty and integrity due to his unauthorized association with a South Korean rocket research institution, a strategic target of his employer.
The Supreme Court was hearing the special leave application of VR Sanal Kumar, a former scientist at the Indian Space Research Organisation’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram against the order of his dismissal from service upheld by the Central Administrative Tribunal and the Kerala High Court.
Kumar, who joined ISRO in 1992, was dismissed with effect from 1 September 2003 under the Space Ministry Personnel (Classification, Review and Revocation) Rules to join Andong National University, South Korea and assist Professor H D Kim, Head of Mechanical Engineering school, without the permission of his employer.
Upholding the decision of the CAT and the Kerala High Court, Justices M.R. Shah and CT Ravikumar said, “It is not the mere unauthorized absence of the appellant that actually weighed on the authority and it is clear that the organization is perfectly entitled to raise suspicions.” of honesty, integrity, reliability, dependability and trustworthiness in view of the facts found in this case…
“….. in addition to discussing that his unauthorized connection with a foreign institution, especially in the field of propulsion, which is a strategic research and development entity in the organization and on the basis of which the national missile and ambitious launch vehicle programs are / are being developed , was of concern to the security of the state.
” He said that when such conduct of a scientist in a sensitive and strategic organization comes to light, the decision to dismiss him from service cannot be said to be “illegal or totally unjustified”.
The strategic research and development entity at ISRO
It stated that Kumar’s unauthorized association with a foreign institution in of propulsion the strategic research and development entity at ISRO that underpinned the nation’s rocket and ambitious launch vehicle programs was a matter of national security concern.
The court said it found no reason to interfere with the High Court judgment dismissing the challenge to the CATs order. “The appeal must therefore fail and is therefore dismissed without charge,” he said. The bench also took note of Kumar’s contention that he was a senior scientist specializing in rocket propulsion with proven capabilities at par with a NASA scientist.
“He would further state that he is top notch in the space program and has all the potential to become the Chairman of ISRO and is the best suitable candidate for the post with immediate effect,” the bench observed.
The Supreme Court said that the facts of the case revealed that Kumar had gone to South Korea without permission from the competent authority and joined Andong National University, where he assisted a professor who was the head of the School of Mechanical Engineering and continued to work with foreign institutions engaged in rocket technology research .
She said that Kumar was repeatedly advised not to come in contact with any external agency like the university without the permission of the relevant authorities in ISRO.
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