No takers for 5 professors’ posts, may delay autonomy to LIT
| Date :05-Jun-2019 |
By Ajay Mardikar:
Laxminarayan Institute of Technology of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, might have to wait further to fulfill its dream of becoming a deemed university. The permission of appointing 17 teachers in different grades was granted. However, five posts of professors could not be filled, as there was no applicant for the posts. LIT had advertised seven posts of professors, besides other posts of Associate Professors and Assistant Professors.
Director of LIT Dr Raju Mankar, when contacted informed that five posts of professors could not be filled. Out of the remaining two, one was filled in by promotion and one through interview. Out of the 32 vacant posts, the State Government had granted permission to fill in 17 posts. Interviews were held in the month of May. The posts were sanctioned following directions issued by the High Court, in reply to a writ petition filed by the LIT Alumni Association.
Despite the fact that the court had directed to allow recruitment against all vacant posts, sanction for only 17 was granted. A proposal for attaining deemed university has also been submitted. Union Minister for Road Transport Nitin Gadkari had assured to make efforts for special grant to LIT. However, the issue has not yet materialised. Besides physical infrastructure, development of laboratories, library etc has been included in the proposal.
The institution, which once was one of the best institutions in the country, suffered for want of faculty. The Alumni Association, however, is determined to regain the status for their alma mater. The issue is being followed in and outside the court. Dean, faculty of Science and Technology Dr G S Khadekar has already worked out changes in the curriculum, which will be implemented from the next academic year. The changes have been carried out after consultation with the experts from the field and industry. RTM Nagpur University, in its budget, has also made special provision for development of LIT.
Institutions like LIT earn better grade for the University during assessment by National Assessment and Accreditation Council. However, acquiring deemed university status for it is more important in view of development of the students and the region. Laxminarayan Institute of Technology earlier was also known for consultation services for industries and research institutes, particularly in oil, paint and food technology. With availability of adequate teaching and non-teaching staff, the same can be started again. This will also help in generating revenue for the institution. Besides Dr Mankar and Dr Khadekar, Vice-Chancellor Dr S P Kane and members of its Alumni Association are working hard to achieve the ambitious plan of development of Laxminarayan Institute of Technology.