The IIT Kharagpur authorities on Saturday decided to ‘take no further action’ against 80 odd professors who responded to show-cause notices or apologized for raising the issue of discrimination and irregularities at the premier engineering institute.
However, the administration is reportedly busy with replacing the five professors who failed to respond to the notices.
“Of the 85 professors, 18 professors have apologized, their cases were rewarded; 62 professors responded to the show-cause notices on December 6, 2024. The authorities informed them that no ‘additional action’ will be taken against them,” said the source.
“Based on your response, the competent authority here is considering the same without any further action, while reserving legal rights in the matter. You are requested to refrain from any activity contrary to the Act and/or Service Rules of the Institute or other similar actions which may be deemed to be in violation of the above (in) future,” read the new letters (a. copy of which is with Indian Express) to 62 professors who responded to show notices.
The controversy started after the IIT Kharagpur Teachers Association sent a letter to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in September alleging nexus and irregularities at IIT Kharagpur.
This exhibition inspired to create letters from the authorities to the four administrators of the IIT Kharagpur Teachers Association.
The issue escalated after the members of the 85th unit (including the offices of IIT Kharagpur Teachers Association) held an Extraordinary General Body meeting on 28 November and threatened to go on hunger strike if the show cause notice was not withdrawn.
Soon after, all 85 faculty members were screened by the Institute.
Three department heads have also been removed from their positions since the conflict broke out.
The members of the teachers organized a silent march protesting this issue inside the institution on Thursday and Friday.