Centre meddling in affairs of IITs: Academicians

MUMBAI: The controversy created by the resignation of nuclear scientist Anil Kakodkar as chairman of IIT-B board of governors has not gone down well with the scientific and academic community in the country. With two resignations from the IIT system pending with the ministry of human resources development (MHRD) for approval in less than four months, the situation is more than worrying, say academicians. Kakodkar resigned last week but he has been asked to continue in the post. R K Shevgaonkar, IIT-Delhi director also had resigned in December over reported differences with the MHRD. Since his resignation is yet to be accepted by the MHRD, he continues to hold office.

"Both are distinguished personalities in their fields. The directors are selected after a rigorous process and to lose out such people with vision is a major loss to the premier institutes of learning," said a professor.

A senior member of one of the IIT boards said that the ministry is trying to bring about changes in a well-established and successful system. "We have been following a process, which has produced some of the greatest directors in the past. Usually, shortlisted candidates, who are in single-digit numbers, are called for the interviews. Calling 37 applicants for interviews sounds absurd. To top it all, the minister (Smriti Irani) is not capable of handling any situation in a mature way. She lacks people's skills and also comes across as arrogant," alleged the member.

A "well-oiled system" of selection cannot be tampered with as it could prove dangerous for the community, said academicians. "The process of appointments of directors of the three IITs in Ropar, Patna and Bhubaneshwar could have been wrapped up easily. The posts are lying vacant for over six months," said a professor. "In the last meeting that the panel had, Kakodkar was reportedly ill-treated by the minister. He is not a person to have displayed a knee-jerk reaction, the trigger must have been of serious nature," said the professor.