IIT Kharagpur changes norms

Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, has barred employees on deputation to other institutions from drawing benefits from the IIT, after HT revealed how its former deputy director was simultaneously receiving medical benefits from two institutions.

Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, has barred employees on deputation to other institutions from drawing benefits from the IIT, after HT revealed how its former deputy director was simultaneously receiving medical benefits from two institutions.

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IIT Bhubaneswar director Madhusudhan Chakraborty, who was deputy director of IIT Kharagpur till 2009, was drawing medical benefits from both IITs, drawing allegations of misusing public resources, as this newspaper first reported on February 27.

The IIT Kharagpur board of governors, at a meeting on March 4 decided to not allow employees who have taken up assignments at other organisations to seek benefits while on deputation or lien.

Chakraborty will also be asked to repay the costs of the benefits he drew from IIT Kharagpur while at IIT Bhubaneswar under the decision taken by the BoG, and stated in a note to the Kharagpur Institute community by the registrar on April 12.

“The board also decided that such employees who are currently on lien/extraordinary leave and have availed allowances, including LTC and medical facilities of BC Roy Technology Hospital, be requested to pay the cost of all benefits,” the registrar said in a note to the Institute community.

Chakraborty argued that he was drawing on medicines and consultation from IIT Kharagpur since “they know my medical history and are the best judge for medication administration.” He argued he also needed to use emergency medicines facilities at IIT Bhubaneswar.