Over 400 faculty members and a large number of alumni of IIT Kharagpur in West Bengal on Wednesday went on a token hunger-strike demanding immediate appointment of a director.
The post of the director fell vacant on June 30, 2012 and there has been no permanent appointment to the post, IIT Teachers Association general secretary Rajendra Singh said.
Mr. Singh said a computer science department professor Partha Pratim Chakraborty was interviewed twice by the HRD ministry and his appointment has been held back for long pending vigilance clearance. He said in the absence of the director, no major policy decision could be taken at the institute.
Mr. Singh alleged the institute was being neglected by the HRD ministry. He said on the convocation day on July 27 which would be attended by HRD minister Pallam Raju, faculty members would stage a silent procession before the start but no academic activity would be disrupted.
Of the total 550 faculty members, 425 participated in the hunger-strike.
