C-MAT appointment controversy: Shani Shafeer, wife of Congress leader BRM Shafeer, resigns

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amid controversies over favouritism in the appointment, Shani Shafeer, wife of Congress leader BRM Shafeer, resigned from her post as Research Officer at C-MAT. She submitted her resignation on Friday, citing the need to focus on research work.

DYFI had recently staged a protest at C-MAT against the appointment of Shani Shafeer.

Ironically, BRM Shafeer, the KPCC General Secretary, once made headlines with his speech immediately after UDF assumed power in Kerala. In one speech, Shafeer recounted having a bitter exchange with his brother-in-law, a police officer. Shafeer said his brother-in-law forwarded a transfer request with the belief that Shafeer’s clout within the party would make things easier. However, Shafeer said he denied the request outright, saying he championed only merit-based appointments.

C-MAT responded that all appointments were on merit basis. Meanwhile, the Education Department stated that no one—including relatives of CPM leaders appointed by the previous Left government—had been dismissed from C-MAT. Meanwhile, the UDF government also appointed additional personnel for teacher training.