Will the IIT whistleblower Prof Kumar be reinstated?
1 Mar, 2013The case of suspension of whistleblower of IIT Kharagpur Professor Rajeev Kumar has taken a turn. On May 13, 2011 he was suspended based on a range of allegations, including maligning and misrepresenting the institute. Now, the Human Resource Development Ministry has decided to recommend that his suspension be revoked based on the advice of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).
While working with the computer science department of the institute, he had used the RTI Act to expose an alleged fake institute that was operating from within the Kharagpur campus. He had questioned the marks system of students appearing for the IIT-JEE.
On the advice of CVC, the Central Vigilance Officer of HRD Ministry has recommended that the suspension orders against Professor Kumar be revoked. The order is being sent to IIT Kharagpur for implementation. The HRD Ministry had written to IIT Kharagpur asking it to review Kumar’s suspension order and place the matter before the President for review. The ministry sought the advice of CVC when the institute refused.