New Delhi: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, one of the oldest IITs, has issued show-cause notices to 86 faculty members who signed a petition calling for withdrawal of disciplinary action against office bearers of the teachers’ association.
In response, the faculty are now planning protests, including street demonstrations and hunger strikes, besides potential legal action.
Conflict between the IIT-Kharagpur administration and IIT-Kharagpur Teachers’ Association (IITTA) started in September, when the association sent a letter to the Union Ministry of Education outlining multiple grievances. The administration’s decision to issue show-cause notices to office bearers of IITTA—president, general secretary, vice president and treasurer—in response further escalated tensions.
“IITTA is an independent body, registered under West Bengal Societies Act. How can the administration take action against elected members of an independent association—and now against 86 teachers for supporting them?” asked a senior faculty member who did not wish to be named.
The IITTA is now exploring legal options to seek a stay on any disciplinary action. “We will wear black bands at work, organise street protests; some of us may even begin a hunger strike,” said another faculty member who spoke to ThePrint on condition of anonymity.
Despite multiple attempts, IIT-Kharagpur’s Director V.K. Tiwari did not respond to calls or emails. Registrar Capt. Amit Jain (Retd), too, did not respond to an email seeking comment. This report will be updated if and when a response is received.
In a statement issued Tuesday, IIT Kharagpur stood its ground. “Among the 800+ faculty members, the intent of action of these 85 signatories are questioned in mobilising a mass representation to threaten the administration, propagating a collective hateful purpose and disrupting the normal academic workflow of the institution without a definitive agenda.”
“Apart from a few, most of the signatories are unaware of the motive of the agenda and are therefore withdrawing their stance. They are just mobilizing the media without any concrete evidence. The office bearers were asked to provide substantiate data/documentations in support of their allegation against the administration,” read the statement.
The Institute also said that it had a positive dialogue with the office bearers of the IITTA after which they were granted a relaxation till 13 December to provide proper documentation against their allegations.
“Further, the director of the institute advised them not to malign the reputation of the institute of eminence. This is an academic institution and this type of propaganda and approach should not be encouraged,” it added.
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‘Favouritism flourished’
Multiple faculty members ThePrint spoke to said differences with the current administration resulted in office bearers of IITTA sending a letter to the Union Ministry of Education on 20 September. “The decision to write to the ministry was driven by necessity, as the administration was not addressing the grievances of the faculty,” said a senior faculty member who did not wish to be named.
In its letter, IITTA accused IIT Kharagpur director V.K. Tiwari, whose term ends in January 2025, of “nepotism”, “arbitrary faculty recruitment”, “failure in starting multispeciality hospital and external campus” and “vitiating the harmony between campus and neighbourhood community”.
The teachers’ association urged the ministry to pick someone with “high academic report as well as experience in practicing inclusive governance” as Tiwari’s successor.
It also alleged that the institute witnessed “unprecedented nepotism” since Tiwari’s appointment in 2020.
“Within this period, we are stunned to see the rise of a particular person, belonging to the same department as the incumbent director, from professor position to the head of the department, member of Board of Governors, dean, SRIC and now the deputy director of the institute. This is now the talk of the town as how favouritism has flourished in the tenure of the current director,” read the letter, a copy of which is with ThePrint.
The IITTA termed these submissions the “tip of the iceberg”.
Adding, “It shows what happens if an incapable person becomes the director of such a reputed institute.”
The teachers’ association went on to add that the institute needs a director who is “compassionate and listens to the needs and aspirations” of all stakeholders, and faculty members in particular. It also said letters to the director, Board of Governors and its Chairman went unanswered, claiming “none even bothered to acknowledge the receipt of those letters.”
“Now we wish that you will take appropriate steps to bring the previous glory of IIT Kharagpur by selecting a director of high academic repute and experienced in practising inclusive governance so that all teachers, staff and students respect the highest chair of the Institute,” read the letter.
Fallout of the letter
Almost two months later, IIT Kharagpur’s Registrar on 12 November issued show-cause notices to office bearers of IITTA, asking them to submit evidence for allegations levelled in their letter to the education ministry dated 20 September 2024, within seven days.
“These issues are of significant importance and require immediate clarification. The allegations, if found to be true, could have serious implications for the governance and reputation of the Institute,” read one show-cause notice, which ThePrint has seen.
It added that IIT Kharagpur is “deeply concerned by the contents of your letter, and accordingly, you are required to provide a detailed written explanation with evidence”.
The notice also stated that failure to provide a “satisfactory explanation or response within the stipulated time” may lead to further action, which could include disciplinary measures in accordance with the institute’s regulations.
The Registrar issued a separate show-cause notice to IITTA general secretary Amal Kumar Das for allegedly disclosing details of the teachers’ association’s letter to the media.
“As per the teachers’ association mandate, only the general secretary is authorised to engage with the media, and only when approached by them. Professor Das never made any public statements regarding the administration, thus adhering to the institute’s established code of conduct. It is highly objectionable that he was issued a separate notice,” a senior faculty member told ThePrint, requesting anonymity.
When approached, Das declined to comment.
Two days later, on 14 November, elected members of IITTA requested an extension of the deadline till 26 December, stating that they were busy with academic activities for the ongoing semester. However, their request was rejected immediately following which the teachers’ association held an Extraordinary General Body Meeting (EGBM) that same day.
The administration, meanwhile, initiated a disciplinary inquiry against the IITTA office bearers for failing to respond to the show-cause in time.
According to minutes of the meeting, seen by ThePrint, IITTA and its members decided to seek legal advice on the formulation of a response to both show-cause notices. They decided to uniformly contribute monthly, or lump sum, additional amounts to the IITTA fund to nullify the matter legally and ensure no one individual bears the financial burden.
The minutes were circulated along with a representation demanding withdrawal of disciplinary action and show-cause notices, which was signed by 86 teachers who were also members of the IITTA.
Reacting to this, the Registrar on 29 November issued show-cause notices to all 86 teachers stating that their act violated the Conduct Rules of the Institute, Statute 15 (17), which says: “No employee shall be signatory to any joint representation addressed to the authorities for redress of any grievances or of any other matter.”
“In view of the above, you are hereby required to state reasons within seven (7) days of receipt of this notice as to why action shall not be taken against you for your aforesaid act. Failure to respond within the stipulated time or provide a satisfactory explanation will result in action against you as per rules,” read the show-cause notice.
On the latest developments, a faculty member quoted earlier remarked: “Never ever in the 75 years of history of the institute has this happened. The administration has never behaved in such an authoritative manner before.”
This is an updated version of the report
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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As long as the UPA era appointments of individuals with explicit and open political connections with the Left-Congress eco-system continued, they did not come out and protest. Many of the current office bearers of IITTA were beneficiaries of such political favouritism.
Now that the tables have turned and Prof. Tewari has been appointing individuals with right-wing political connections, the IITTA is up in arms. The hypocrisy is not lost on anyone.
As far as the students anger is concerned, it is totally justified. After having spent months and years preparing for the JEE and after having successfully won the rat race, they deserve to party hard. Nobody should stop them from enjoying their lives.
These are big problems faced by all institution.
There is a way out which power minded people would not like.
The solution is the who ever is choosen to lead should be one of the person from the most senior from the institution or one retired from it.
Faith and bonding of love and affection
Thanks Hari 🕉