New Delhi: The Union Human Resources Development (HRD) Ministry is in the midst of another controversy as IIT Delhi director Raghunath K Shevgaonkar has quit. While reports said Shevgaonkar resigned as he was facing pressure to give IIT land for a Sachin Tendulkar cricket academy and over pending dues of BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, the HRD Ministry has denied having anything to do with the two issues.
IIT sources insist Shevgaonkar resigned because of personal reasons while HRD ministry sources say they had just forwarded a letter by Swamy about his pending dues to the IIT director.
HRD Minister Smriti Irani is learnt to have called a meeting on Sunday over the resignation of Shevgaonkar before issuing a rejoinder over the issue. In a statement, the Ministry said, "There is neither any request from Sachin Tendulkar for the ground of IIT for running a Cricket Academy nor any instruction from MHRD (Ministry of HRD) to provide the same. MHRD has neither forwarded Mr Swamy's request to IIT-Delhi nor given any direction to make payment of arrears to Mr. Swamy. Views of DoPT (Department of Personnel and Training) and Finance Ministry have been sought on the matter."
The sources said Chairman, IIT-Delhi, forwarded the director's resignation letter on December 26 for appointing authority's decision following due process. It will have to go to President Pranab Mukherjee for his approval as the Visitor of IIT-Delhi.
"The news item reported is factually inaccurate and incorrect and unnecessarily drags the Ministry into issues where no direction has been issued by the Ministry," the HRD Ministry statement said.
While Shevgaonkar has refused to comment over the issue, Tendulkar has tweeted denying reports that IIT Delhi had been asked to sanction land to set up an academy in his name. Tendulkar said he was appalled by the reports and that he had not even planned any academy nor wanted any piece of land.
Sources said one of the reasons for the IIT director resignation was that HRD ministry had taken cognizance of a complaint against him for starting an off-campus branch of the institution. IIT Delhi had decided to set up a campus in Mauritius in 2013 under the UPA Regime but there was a complaint that it was in violation of rules. However, HRD Ministry had not given any notice to the director.
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