IIT Kharagpur Faculty Threatens Hunger Strike Over Show-Cause Notice Dispute

A group of faculty members from IIT Kharagpur has threatened to initiate a hunger strike and seek intervention from the Calcutta High Court regarding a show-cause notice issued to 86 professors.

Over 100 professors have been participating in a sit-in protest outside the institute’s administrative building since Wednesday, displaying placards and wearing black armbands. “We have reached out to the chairman of the board of governors for assistance. The sit-in commenced on Wednesday. Should our demands remain unmet, we will resort to a hunger strike. We are also preparing to approach the court early next week,” stated a professor who wished to remain anonymous.

In September, the Indian Institute of Technology Teachers’ Association (IITTA) accused Director Virendra Kumar Tewari of showing favoritism during recruitment, failing to establish a multi-super-specialty hospital, and unlawfully recovering excess payments from faculty members. They called upon the Union government to appoint a director with “high academic reputation” and “inclusive governance” practices.

Consequently, show-cause notices were issued in November to IITTA office bearers including the president, general secretary, vice-president, and treasurer, demanding a comprehensive explanation supported by evidence. These notices were later extended to 86 professors who threatened to launch hunger strikes unless the disciplinary actions were rescinded.

On 28 November, the IITTA adopted a resolution signed by 86 faculty members, demanding the withdrawal of these notices and an end to the disciplinary measures. The notices indicated that the institute’s Conduct Rules specify that “an employee shall not join other employees in signing any joint representations for redressal of any grievances. ”

In response, department heads from AI, mathematics, biosciences, and biotechnology who had endorsed the resolution faced removal. The administration opted not to comment on the situation.