123 Kolkata: IIT Teachers' Association (IITTA) has decided to file a writ petition in the Calcutta High Court against the IIT-Kharagpur authorities for issuing show-cause notices against 86 professors and initiating disciplinary proceedings against the office-bearers of the association.
"Preparations to file a writ petition have started. IITTA members will sign a vakalatnama and the petition will be filed by next week," said a member. IITTA, for the third consecutive day, staged a demonstration at Bidhan Chowk on Friday. The row between the teachers and the management started after IITTAA in Sept wrote to the Union education minister alleging irregularities and asking for a new director after V K Tewari's tenure ends in Jan.
Pointing out they were left with no other choice but to move court against the vindictive acts of the authorities, a professor said, "The institute is trying to deny the rights of the association members. Three professors, who were HoDs, were removed from their posts for signing a letter to the registrar."
Nearly 70 among the show-caused 86 faculty members have sent in their replies, clarifying they had not been "part of any mass representation" addressed to the registrar, as alleged in the Nov 28 show-cause notice against them. They wrote the "representation" in question was merely a "resolution" unanimously passed at the IITTA extraordinary general body meeting. They requested the IIT authorities to withdraw the show-cause notices against them. "Around 70 professors have replied to the show-cause notices, clarifying their stand and explaining why the notices should be rolled back," said an IITTA member, alleging 10-11 teachers were forced by the administration into tendering apology.
IIT-Kgp issued a statement on Friday, saying: "Of the 85, 20 apology letters have been submitted until Friday which is condoned by the authority and the rest responded to the show-cause notice, which seems to have been considered by the competent authority." On Thursday, after the apology from a section of the professors, IIT officials had said: "Many of the faculty members were not aware of the content of the letter as well as the Conduct Rules... ."
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