IIT, HRD turf war continues

Updated on: Monday, September 28, 2009

New Delhi: Disapproving HRD Minister Kapil Sibal's statement that its stir was aimed at higher salary, the IIT faculty today said the agitation over pay structure issue was intended to secure greater autonomy for the elite institutes.

The teachers of all IITs observed fast on Thursday in support of their demand for withdrawal of 40 per cent cap on promotion of professors to senior grade and abolition of contractual appointment at entry stage.

The IIT faculty has been saying that such restrictions would curtail the autonomy given by an Act of Parliament to the elite institutes.

Sibal had yesterday said the agitation was not for autonomy, but for money.
Alleging that the university education system is crumbling under government control, the faculty of the premier technology institutes said the Centre is considering another regulator for the university system.

'All do agree that society as a whole, we need to nurture excellence in all walks of life in all forms. We are concerned and would like to know how our government intends to nurture excellence,' the faculty said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Sibal said in Chandigarh that the IITs will be given more autonomy if they come up with a vision plan and generate resource from outside.

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