IIT Kharagpur authorities on Saturday decided to take ‘no further action’ against 80-odd professors who have either responded to show-cause notices or apologized for raising the issue of nepotism and irregularities in the premier engineering institute.
However, it is said that the management is preparing to take action against the 5 professors who failed to respond to the show cause notice.
“Out of the 85 professors, 18 professors have apologized and their cases have been waived; 62 professors have responded to show cause notices on December 6, 2024. The competent authority has informed them that no ‘further action’ is being taken against them,” a source said.
“Based on your reply, the Competent Authority will consider the matter without taking any action, reserving legal rights. You are advised to refrain from any activity that violates the statutes and/or service rules of this organization or any other similar actions that may violate the above in future,” Read the latest articles. a copy of which is with The Indian Express) to the 62 professors who responded to the showcase notice.
The controversy erupted after the IIT Khadagpur teachers union sent a letter to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in September, alleging nepotism and irregularities at IIT Khadagpur.
This prompted show-cause letters from authorities to four office-bearers of the IIT Kharagpur Teachers Association.
The issue escalated when 85 faculty members (including officials of the IIT Kharagpur Teachers Association) held an extraordinary general body meeting on November 28 and threatened to go on a hunger strike if the show-cause notice was not withdrawn.
Soon after, all 85 faculty members were show-caused by the institute.
After the controversy, three department heads were also removed from their posts.
On Thursday and Friday, the professors took out a silent protest rally inside the campus regarding this matter.