HRD minister 'aghast' at irregularities in SVNIT

SURAT: Union minister of state for human resource development (HRD), Dr Satya Pal Singh has promised detailed inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the recent recruitment and promotions at the Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology (SVNIT).
In an interactive session organized by the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) on Tuesday, a delegation of 31 assistant professors from the SVNIT represented to the minister in the open forum to resolve the issue of their recruitment and promotions pending for several years.

Talking with the assistant professors of SVNIT, Dr Singh said, "I am really aghast and disturbed to know that a national institute of technology is behaving in such a manner towards its faculties. I would like few of the professors to visit New Delhi and meet the HRD secretary to resolve the issue."

The assistant professors alleged that the SVNIT administration is using its power to favour incompetent people. Merits and credentials are not been considered and that more than 31 assistant professors are suffering injustice and humiliation for the past decade. Some of the professors are in deep depression and few of the cases of suicidal tendencies were notified by the institute's medical officer.

The professors stated that there are several faculties whose research papers have been retracted and they have been rewarded in the recent promotion by promoting them in the post of professors and associate professors.

The ministry of human resources and development has given one-time relaxation to elevate faculties at the level of associate professors through a letter dated October 6, 2017 to remove the stagnancy of faculties whose promotions are long been due. But the relaxation have been offered to non-stagnated people who joined the institute during 21012-13 i.e less than six years of post PhD experience in the SVNIT on the last date of application.

An assistant professor working with SNVIT from the last one decade said, "After completing my research studies from London, I expressed a desire to serve my country and returned to the roots. For the past one decade, I am serving on the same post of assistant professor in SNVIT. Less experienced people who joined after me have been elevated as professors and associate professors. The director of SVNIT is playing caste politics to suppress us."