3 IITs still headless, process to begin afresh

NEW DELHI: After a long delay , appointment of directors of IITs of Ropar, Bhubaneshwar and Patna looks set to begin from scratch as HRD ministry has decided to call 37 candidates for interaction with search-cum-selection committee headed by HRD minister Smriti Irani on March 22.

HRD's decision has come after 10 candidates were shortlisted for the three IITs. Sources said the selection process--initiated a little less than a year back- was vitiated as one of the 10 shortlisted candidates was not among those who were called for interaction with the search-cum-selection committee. "He was made part of the process later," the source said. The entire episode has already resulted in work reshuffle of officers in the ministry as Amarjit Sinha, additional secretary in-charge of technical education has been asked to look after statistics.

However, at least two members of the search-cumselection committee are reluctant to be part of the process afresh. "We have not yet made up our mind if we should continue. But to go back to drawing board is like showing no confidence in our work so far," one member said. But sources in the ministry say, "We are not asking for fresh names but want to interact with 37 of them afresh. If same ten people are found eli gible we have no problem. No new names are being intro duced as has already been done." It is likely that HRD minister, as head of the search-cum-selection committee, will take an active interest in the fresh selection.

Meanwhile, three IITs that were established during UPA I continue to suffer. IIT, Patna is being run by director of IIT, Kharagpur and IIT, Ro par director K Surappa is on extension till new director is appointed. IIT, Bhubaneshwar's routine administraf tion is being done by senior faculty member Sujit Roy.