A brand new entrance has opened within the ongoing turf struggle on the Indian Institute of Administration, Calcutta, with Director Anju Seth, this time, writing to the federal government towards the institute’s Chairman.
Seth, The Indian Specific has learnt, has written to the Ministry of Schooling alleging that the Board of Governors, led by Chairman Shrikrishna Kulkarni, is infringing on her govt powers.
The letter comes lower than two months after over 75% of the IIM-Calcutta college lodged an analogous grievance with the ministry towards Seth. The academics had alleged that the Director had centralised powers in her palms and usurped their administration- and decision-making roles.
Seth and Chairman Kulkarni didn’t reply to calls, SMS, and an electronic mail left by this newspaper.
Seth has, amongst different issues, advised the federal government that she was sidelined in drafting new laws beneath the amended IIM Act. These laws are to assist oversee and information IIM administration beneath the brand new legislation. By the way, this too is much like what the school had alleged earlier — that they weren’t consulted by the Board or Seth within the formulation and adoption of the brand new laws.
Seth’s letter towards the institute chairman, simply as the school letter towards her, is extremely uncommon for an IIM.
Among the many points flagged by the academics earlier was college scarcity. Sources mentioned just one new college member had been employed within the final two years regardless of the institute dropping over 10 academics on account of resignation, superannuation and voluntary retirement. A few of the exits, the academics alleged, have been as a consequence of “harassment”.
The school additionally claimed that the disregard of their views on the brand new laws was in contrast to what was achieved by peer institutes resembling IIM-A and IIM-B. The Educational Council, the school mentioned, was given solely 5 days to submit solutions on the draft laws, and their suggestions on centralisation of powers within the Board and Director was not thought of by the Board whereas finalising the laws.
Seth had dismissed the allegations because the work of “a small group of people”, upset together with her efforts to foster a tradition of transparency and accountability. “We’re pained by the baseless tales instigated by this small group to sully the institute’s popularity constructed over a long time. Regardless of the challenges we’ve got confronted, together with these posed by the Covid disaster, we are actually working at even higher effectiveness and effectivity, with devotion to the success of our proficient college students. Having transformed challenges into alternatives to strengthen our resilience, we’re excited to march into the long run with integrity and dedication to the pledge of ‘IIM First’, blessed by the nice needs and assist of valued members of our college and prolonged group,” Seth had advised The Indian Specific in an electronic mail.