Reconsider hunger strike: Sibal

Updated on: Thursday, September 24, 2009

New Delhi: Reiterating the fact that the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) would not let the quality of the premier Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) suffer, Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal today said the decision of the IIT faculty to go on a hunger strike was against the IIT rules of conduct.

“The IITs have asked for autonomy but that doesn’t mean that we will not regulate them. The government has never interfered with their autonomy but will regulate the pay structure of IITs as we are answerable to Parliament. I ask them to reconsider their hunger strike. I am deeply pained at such a public outcry,” Sibal told reporters here today.

The MHRD’s latest notification on pay structure says that about 40 per cent of the professors in the IITs will be promoted to the senior grade after completing six years in the post. It also says that the PhD holders should be appointed as assistant professors on contract basis. As a mark of protest, the faculty members of all the seven IITs decided to go on a hunger strike on September 24, besides giving an ultimatum to the government till October 1 to sort out the issue.

Sibal countered that all the demands of the IIT faculty members have been met. “They have been treated fairly. But now, they are goading IIMs to follow the same. If IITs are government-funded, they will be regulated,” said Sibal.

When contacted for a response, B S Sastry, vice-president of IIT Kharagpur’s Teachers’ Association, reiterated: “We are committed to the protest fast on September 24. Although it will not be forced on any faculty, we assume most faculty across IITs will follow it for the day. We will carry out our responsibilities as usual, though.” M Thenmozhi, president of the All India IIT Faculty Federation, could not be reached for comment.

Reconsider hunger strike: Sibal

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