New Delhi:
In an attempt to end the standoff between the government and IIT faculty on disparities in their pay structures, Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal met a federation of IIT teachers at his residence on Friday.
After the meeting, the minster announced that the standoff with IIT professors is over.
"All issues have been resolved. There's no disagreement, we're on same side," he said adding "we are ready to revisit anything that's good for the IIT faculty."
"We are satisfied with the way the minister has clarified that what has come in the notification is not hard and fast. It is being tried and if it turns out that it is not right, they are willing to revisit it. We are willing to give it a try and see how it works out," said Bharat Sheikh, a professor at IIT Mumbai.
After the IIT professors approached the Prime Minister with their problems, the minister had invited them for talks on Friday.
IIT Faculty Federation President, Professor M Thenmozhi, had written to the Prime Minister complaining about the remarks of the HRD Minister at press conference.
Sibal had said: "We are hoping that there will be Nobel laureates coming out of our IIT system. But Nobel laureates don't go on hunger strikes. There is a certain decorum expected from people of the calibre of these IITs."
The letter to the PM said that Sibal's comments could affect their international reputation.
Here's how over the last couple of weeks IIT professors clashed with Kapil Sibal and a war of words went on:
• A week ago, 2000 IIT professors go on hunger strike demanding better pay, more autonomy
• Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal rejects demand, says no US style salaries for IIT faculty
• HRD Ministry issues notification saying 10 years of teaching experience required for the post of professor of which four years as an associate professor at an IIT.
• IIT faculty steps up protest, questions why the cap on promotion 'when we have poor salaries which do not attract good teachers?'
• IIT faculty federation demands PM's intervention, gives letter to HRD ministry, seeks meeting with Sibal.