IIT-Kgp starts week-long protest against show cause
Times of India | 2 December 2024
Kolkata: The IIT Teachers' Association (IITTA) has decided on a week-long programme starting Monday, protesting against the show-cause notice issued to 86 professors. The protesting professors who signed the IITTA letter to the registrar demanded the immediate withdrawal of the show-cause notice and the cessation of disciplinary proceedings against IITTA office-bearers and its general secretary. The IITTA's letter stated that if their demands were not met by Monday, the teachers would go on a hunger strike.
Wearing black badges, the IITTA members on Monday reached out in small groups to different departments, schools and centres to mobilise more teachers and also to understand their opinions on the administration's activities.
"We will continue wearing black badges and reaching out to various departments to strengthen the protest. We will also organise a walk-in street protest with placards mid-week. If necessary, we will call for a hunger strike as our last resort," said an IITTA member.
The teachers' body called for an online extraordinary general body meeting on Sunday, where it was decided that the response to the show-cause notice to 86 professors would be prepared by consulting an advocate. It will be sent to the registrar before the seven-day deadline.
A senior professor said: "As an independent body, IITTA has its own set of rules and regulations. No IIT-Kgp rules and regulations are applicable to the teachers' body and vice versa. The association has taken a decision and sent the letter to the administration. So, by giving show-cause notices to faculty, they are ignoring their right to work for the association as a member and imposing rules and regulations of IIT acts and statutes. This reflects the victimisation attitude of the authorities and an attempt to destroy the democratic environment."