The tussle between the Union HRD Ministry and IIT-Kharagpur over whistleblower Prof Rajeev Kumar has taken a new turn.
The Ministry has sought the Central Vigilance Commission’s (CVC) advice after IIT-Kharagpur refused to place the procedural matter of allegations against Kumar before the Visitor (President of India) for a review.
It finally responded, after four months, saying an inquiry had already been conducted against the whistleblower and the report submitted to the IIT-Kharagpur director.
This is the first instance when the HRD Ministry has intervened in suspension of a staff, since IITs are governed by their Council. In October last year, the Ministry focused on two specific issues — Kumar’s suspension review and placing the inquiry report before the reviewing authority (that is, the IIT Visitor).
Rules say suspension is not valid if not extended within 90 days. However, based of the inquiry report, IIT-Kharagpur will now go ahead with action against Kumar, a professor in the computer science and engineering department.
The HRD Ministry had asked IIT-Kharagpur to review Kumar’s suspension and inform the Visitor as per Central Civil Services (CCA) Rules. Rules further specify that proceedings should be stayed till a decision is taken by the President.
However, in complete defiance, IIT told the Ministry that the inquiry report had been submitted to the director of IIT-Kharagpur, thus prompting initiation of action against Kumar.
IIT-Kharagpur had suspended Kumar on May 13, 2011, on charges of misrepresenting and defaming the institute. Other charges against him were mass copying, misrepresenting facts of irregular laptop purchase, defaming institute officials, pressurising and preventing them from discharging their duties, threatening the dean and accessing media for his personal gain and to malign the institution.
The director had appointed retired judge Ronojit Mitra in April 2011, as chairman of a one-man “Standing” Inquiry Committee for all disciplinary cases against faculty and officers of the institute. Out of the five sittings, four were held on days when Kumar was appearing in person in Calcutta High Court in a matter related to the IIT whistleblower case.
The joint (consultative) meeting of IIT-Kharagpur on January 28, 2013, stated, “The director said the inquiry report in respect of Prof Rajeev Kumar has been received and the necessary action will be initiated.”
Source: http://www.dailypioneer.com/nation/127294-hrd-ministry-seeks-cvc-advice-on-iit-action-against-professor.html
The Ministry has sought the Central Vigilance Commission’s (CVC) advice after IIT-Kharagpur refused to place the procedural matter of allegations against Kumar before the Visitor (President of India) for a review.
It finally responded, after four months, saying an inquiry had already been conducted against the whistleblower and the report submitted to the IIT-Kharagpur director.
This is the first instance when the HRD Ministry has intervened in suspension of a staff, since IITs are governed by their Council. In October last year, the Ministry focused on two specific issues — Kumar’s suspension review and placing the inquiry report before the reviewing authority (that is, the IIT Visitor).
Rules say suspension is not valid if not extended within 90 days. However, based of the inquiry report, IIT-Kharagpur will now go ahead with action against Kumar, a professor in the computer science and engineering department.
The HRD Ministry had asked IIT-Kharagpur to review Kumar’s suspension and inform the Visitor as per Central Civil Services (CCA) Rules. Rules further specify that proceedings should be stayed till a decision is taken by the President.
However, in complete defiance, IIT told the Ministry that the inquiry report had been submitted to the director of IIT-Kharagpur, thus prompting initiation of action against Kumar.
IIT-Kharagpur had suspended Kumar on May 13, 2011, on charges of misrepresenting and defaming the institute. Other charges against him were mass copying, misrepresenting facts of irregular laptop purchase, defaming institute officials, pressurising and preventing them from discharging their duties, threatening the dean and accessing media for his personal gain and to malign the institution.
The director had appointed retired judge Ronojit Mitra in April 2011, as chairman of a one-man “Standing” Inquiry Committee for all disciplinary cases against faculty and officers of the institute. Out of the five sittings, four were held on days when Kumar was appearing in person in Calcutta High Court in a matter related to the IIT whistleblower case.
The joint (consultative) meeting of IIT-Kharagpur on January 28, 2013, stated, “The director said the inquiry report in respect of Prof Rajeev Kumar has been received and the necessary action will be initiated.”
Source: http://www.dailypioneer.com/nation/127294-hrd-ministry-seeks-cvc-advice-on-iit-action-against-professor.html
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