IIT-Bombay director gets second term

Directors of IITs in Hyderabad,Bhubaneswar,Patna,Ropar and Gandhinagar will complete their terms next year and the same appointment process will be pursued by the ministry for them as well.

A high profile committee comprising former Tata Steel MD J J Irani,former director of India’s Space Commission Rodham Narasimhan,chemical engineer M M Sharma and nuclear scientist Anil Kakodkar,also chairman of the IIT-Bombay board of governors and secretary,granted its seal of approval to Khakhar. The Committee has recommended the same to the Pallam Raju-led HRD ministry,which will now seek the President’s approval for the appointment.

Khakhar’s first-term performance was assessed on parameters such as building the institution as a global brand and research hub,introduction of new academic programmes,faculty retention and development,academic,administrative and financial reforms,revenue generation,etc.

The second term depends on the candidate’s performance. Only if the committee finds his performance “outstanding”,will a director get an automatic second term. If a director is found to be “good” or “very good”,he or she will not be immediately recommended for a second term and applications will be invited for the job.