In an administrative crackdown following prolonged student protests at the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Ranchi (IIIT-Ranchi) after the alleged suicide of a first-year student on Saturday night , the Union ministry of education sent the institute’s Director, Rajiv Srivastava, on a 30-day leave with immediate effect, people aware of the development said on Wednesday.
“The director has proceeded on 30 days’ leave as a probe is being done into the complaint against him. An insider sharing an administrative order said that following the director’s 30-day removal, the institute administration has also cancelled the recent recruitment process for various non-teaching posts, which had been mired in controversy. To resolve the administrative deadlock, Prof. V. M. S. R. Murthy, the current Director of IIEST Shibpur, has been given the additional charge as the Officiating Director of IIIT Ranchi. V. M. S. R.
Murthy has been appointed as officiating director,” he said without elaborating details. A protesting IIIT student said they have temporarily halted their strike following the administrative action. “Strike has now ended after the director was shunted for 30 days,” the student said.
