The Union Tourism Ministry accepted the resignation of Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) Chairman Mahesh Rangarajan on Thursday.
The government had sought opinion from the Election Commission (EC) and the Law Ministry over alleged irregularities in his appointment.
It is not my personal choice whether he should resign or he should not resign. He has (offered) to resign. So, the government and the Executive Council will take a decision.
— Mahesh Sharma, Union Culture Minister
Mahesh Sharma had termed Rangarajan’s appointment as Director of NMML as “illegal and unethical”.
According to Sharma, Rangarajan was appointed despite the EC’s letter dated May 12, 2014 to the Culture Ministry asking it to defer a proposal on permanent absorption of Rangarajan for the post, till the election process of the year was over.
As a result of the change made by UPA last year, Rangarajan’s three-year tenure which was to end in August 2014 was changed to a permanent job till retirement age (60).
This gave the 50 year old ten more years of serving as the head of NMML.
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