‘Response’ to the institute’, ‘removal of three HoDs’ and ‘legal matters’ — IIT Kgp teachers’ body to hold EGM on December 11
The controversy began in September after the IITTA sent a letter to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan alleging nepotism and irregularities at IIT-Kharagpur.
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On Saturday, the IIT-Kharagpur administration in a statement said: “Out of the 85 professors, 18 have apologised and their cases have been condoned."A day after the IIT-Kharagpur administration announced that “no further action” would be taken against 80 professors who have either replied to the show cause notices or have tendered their apologies while adding that it “reserves the legal rights in the matter”, the IIT-
Kharagpur Teachers Association (IITTA) called for an “Extraordinary General Body Meeting” on December 11 to discuss the “response” to the institute.
The controversy began in September after the IITTA sent a letter to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan alleging nepotism and irregularities at IIT-Kharagpur. This was followed by the IIT-Kharagpur authorities issuing show cause notices to four officer bearers of IITTA, and removal of the three heads of department and issuing show cause letters to all the 85 faculty members.
At the executive committee meeting of the IITTA, held on Sunday evening, a resolution was taken to call an ‘Extraordinary General Body Meeting’ (EGBM) that will be held both in physical and online modes since many faculty members are away on leave.
“The EGBM will discuss the administration’s response to the 85 faculties who were given show cause notices. The removal of the three HODs (heads of the department). It will also discuss the handling of legal matters by the office bearers. Furthermore, a signature campaign on solidarity will also be discussed,” said an IITTA office bearer.
On Saturday, the IIT-Kharagpur administration in a statement said: “Out of the 85 professors, 18 have apologised and their cases have been condoned; 62 professors have responded to the show cause notices on December 6, 2024. The competent authority has informed them that no ‘further action’ is being taken against them.”
“Based on your reply, the competent authority hereupon considers the same without any further action whatsoever, while reserving the legal rights in the matter,” it added.
The institute also “advised” the faculty members “to refrain from any activity which is violative of the statute and/or Service Rules of the institute or such other similar acts as may be construed as violative of the above in (the) future”. In the last two days, faculty members held silent protest marches on the campus.
In response to the actions taken by IIT Kharagpur, the Visva Bharati University Faculty Association (VBUFA) and the Jadavpur University Teachers’ Association (JUTA) expressed solidarity with the affected professors, criticising the institute’s stance as “dictatorial” towards those who voiced their concerns.
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