IIT Guwahati professor Brijesh Rai has alleged illegality in ‘construction’ of a temple on the campus. As per a report by Economic Times, Brijesh Rai, assistant professor at IIT Guwahati has alleged that a structure of a temple was constructed on campus four years ago without institute’s permission. The institute has claimed that the temple structure has been on the campus even before the institute came into existence and has been there since ‘time immemorial’.
Rai hai filed a petition in the Guwahati High Court challenging the construction of the temple. On 17th March, IIT Guwahati students had taken out candle light march in support of professor Rai who has also alleged other malpractices like corruption in the working of the institute.
The ET report states that Rai has claimed that the temple was a ‘chabootra’ till 2015 next to a peepal tree with some pictures of deities. However, according to him, it was turned into a permanent structure in 2015. He had filed an RTI (Right to Information) query, in response of which the institute had said that the construction work on premises will require approval of competent authority. The institute also reportedly said that it has not aided in construction of the temple in any way.
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IIT Guwahati in its RTI response also claimed that the temple has been on the campus even before the institute came up and has been there since ‘time immemorial’. Rai, however, shared images with ET from Google Map which show changes in the structure of the temple which indicate construction work having been carried out.
Other than this, Rai has also alleged discrepancies in finances as well as recruitment procedures and even awarding degrees to ‘ineligible’ students. He has accused faculty members of awarding an M.Tech degree ‘illegally’ to a student. After he brought the matter to the authorities, he says that the degree was revoked but no action was taken against faculty members. He has also alleged nepotism and misuse of power in recruitment.
