IIT-K bars 39 students from new semester

Though they can appeal before the senate — a body comprises faculty members,heads of departments and students — a few of them have written to Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal and requested him to intervene in the matter.

Sanjeev S Kashalkar,IIT-K Registrar,said: “This is a routine matter. We identify and withhold students who either do not perform well or are found guilty of misconduct.”

A total of 118 cases of poor performance and misconduct — including 58 undergraduate and 60 postgraduate students — were brought before the Senate last year.

“In a meeting held on January 4,the Senate cleared 79 students who gave genuine reasons for their poor performance. The remaining 39 could not give any satisfactory explanation,” said Kashalkar.

“Like most of our committees,the senate too has student representation. Only after a detailed investigation of each case a decision is made,” he added. These 39 students have an opportunity to present their case again in the next senate meeting scheduled to take place within a month.

Dean of Academic Affairs,Sanjay Mittal,said IIT-K’s method of handling students who are unable to pass a semester is different from other institutes. An academic performance evaluation committee (APEC) reviews semester and annual performance of each student. “The APEC holds three meetings each year and the performance of each student is closely examined. The weaker students or those who cannot concentrate due to some factor are given counselling,” he said. “Students who are unable to improve are terminated from the course but not from the institute,” Mittal said.

Final year MSc student Kilkil Sachan,who has been withheld,said: “I was into my last semester,but the senate decision has delayed my course.” He accused the institute authorities of being harsh towards some students.

Kilkil’s father Prem Narain Sachan said his son has gone into depression.

A Congress leader from Kanpur Dehat,Sachan said: “I have told some MPs about the biased approach of IIT-K authorities towards certain students. Hopefully,the Human Resource Development Ministry will take some positive decision.”