IIT Kharagpur accepts resignation of whistle-blower prof

IIT Kharagpur has accepted the resignation of whistle-blower professor Rajeev Kumar, whose compulsory retirement order was quashed by President Pranab Mukherjee days before he demitted office.

Kumar was suspended by IIT Kharagpur on charges of "misconduct" in 2011, which ironically was the same year he was lauded by the Supreme Court as the "unsung hero" for his efforts to reform the IIT Joint Entrance Examination (JEE).

The institute had set up a probe panel that found him guilty of "damaging the reputation of the institute" by complaining on issues ranging from irregularities in the purchase of laptops to rampant copying by students during examinations.

In 2014, after an IIT panel decided in favour of his compulsorily retirement, Kumar alleged that the panel was biased. He then moved the Delhi High Court and obtained a stay on the IIT's order. He had also appealed to the then president, requesting that the order be quashed.

While he had resigned in 2014, the institution had not accepted his resignation saying the matter was sub-judice. Following the high court's stay order, Kumar had taken lien for two years and joined Jawaharlal Nehru University in 2015. However, he was relieved from JNU in June to allow him to re-join IIT Kharagpur.

The professor has appealed to the JNU Vice-Chancellor to reinstate him as his penalty has been quashed and resignation accepted. Days before he demitted office last month, former president Pranab Mukherjee had ordered setting aside of the penalty imposed on Kumar.