Congress Leader BRM Shafeer’s Wife Resigns from SEEMAT Post Amid Appointment Row

Thiruvananthapuram: Shani Shafeer, wife of Congress leader BRM Shafeer, has resigned from her post as research officer at the State Institute of Educational Management and Training (SIEMAT) following a controversy over her appointment. The appointment at the institution under the Education Department sparked criticism as applications had not been invited and no interview had been conducted. She also lacked the qualifications required for the post. She was appointed at a monthly salary of ₹40,000 despite not having the PhD that is a mandatory qualification for the position.

Shani was appointed on a one-year contract with a monthly salary of ₹40,000. No official notification inviting applications was issued for the vacancy, and no rank list was prepared. SIEMAT authorities had explained that the appointment was made on the basis of her biodata.

A PhD is required for the research officer post, while Shani is only a PhD research scholar. The institution had attempted to justify the appointment, with SIEMAT director R Arun Kumar stating that she was selected based on the required educational qualifications and not because she was Shafeer’s wife.

Since the UDF government came to power, 12 people have been appointed at SEEMAT without inviting applications. Of these, five were appointed as research officers, four to assistant posts and three as attendants. Reports that some of those appointed had links to the Congress and the Muslim League further intensified the controversy.