HC directs CBI to probe IIT-M appointments

Faculty appointments at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, came under the CBI scanner on Thursday with the Madras High Court directing it to probe the legality of recruitments between 1995 and September 26, 2000. Those found responsible for any illegal appointment would be prosecuted, Justice S Nagamuthu warned.

The judge was allowing a batch of writ petitions from Dr W B Vasantha and others seeking to quash the selection for faculty positions by an advertisement issued in 1995 and direct the chairman, board of directors and the IIT-M director to select her as associate professor in a duly constituted selection committee following the reservation for OBC.

In an indictment of the IIT, the judge observed that Vasantha should be treated to have been appointed as associate professor with effect from July 27, 1995, and as a professor from December 18, 1996. The pay and allowances of the petitioner from July 27, 1995, for the post of associate professor till December 17, 1996, should be calculated notionally for purpose of fixing her future salary. However, for this period, she would not be entitled for back wages. Allegations have been made in the past about IIT-M not adhering to reservation in faculty recruitment.