VC PUNE may take up IIT director's post

VC PUNE may take up IIT director's post
University of Pune vice-chancellor Raghunath Shevgaonkar is tipped for a move as the new director of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi.

A top official from the VC's core group at the university told TOI on Thursday that Shevgaonkar's name has figured among the candidates shortlisted for the key post after interviews for the same were held last week at IIT Delhi.

The official, however, said that a formal announcement on Shevgaonkar's move may come only after the President, who is the visitor to the IITs, puts a seal of approval on one of the shortlisted candidates.

Shevgaonkar, who was deputy director at IIT Bombay before taking charge as the UOP VC in March 2010, could not be reached for the better part of Thursday after a section of the local media published reports that he was moving as director of IIT Bombay.

The director's post at IIT Bombay is unlikely to fall vacant for the next three years. The Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry, which oversees the IITs, too has not released any advertisement inviting applications for the key post at IIT Bombay.

The TOI made repeated calls on Shevgaonkar's cell phone but the same drew no response. An SMS seeking the VC's comment on the issue drew the same result.

A few months ago, the HRD ministry had released advertisements in newspapers for the director's post at IIT Delhi and IIT Roorkee. This, after the IIT Council, which is the highest decision-making body of the premier technology schools, resolved that apart from inviting nominations from eminent persons, applications would also be invited by way of advertisements and posting of information on the websites of the ministry and the IIT alumni bodies.

The IIT Act provides that after the search-cum-selection committee shortlists the candidates, the director is appointed by the IIT Council with prior approval of the President.

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