A parliamentarian has sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the poor representation of SCs, STs and OBCs in faculty positions at IIT Delhi.

Manickam Tagore, Congress MP from Tamil Nadu, wrote to Modi on Saturday highlighting the disparity in the appointment of candidates from socially backward communities as faculty.

Tagore said IIT Delhi appears to have violated established norms for inclusion of candidates from SC, ST and OBC communities. Six departments currently have no SC, ST and OBC faculty members and many others show minimal representation, he pointed out. He wrote that 22 departments lack ST faculty, 14 departments have no SC teachers and nine departments have no OBC faculty. In total, there are 564 general faculty members compared to only 69 from SC, ST and OBC backgrounds.

Since January 2022, only 30 faculty members from SC, ST and OBC categories have been appointed while a notable number of general category faculty members have been recruited during this period.

“This lack of representation undermines the principles of equality and inclusivity that our esteemed institutions should uphold. It is crucial for IIT Delhi not only to adhere to recruitment guidelines but also to actively promote diversity among faculty to foster an equitable academic environment,” he wrote.

“I urge your esteemed office to intervene and direct the Ministry of Education to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. A mission-mode approach to faculty recruitment that prioritises diversity and inclusion is essential for addressing these disparities and creating a more balanced academic community. It is vital for the selection committee to adhere to equitable recruitment practices that support the representation of OBC and SC candidates,” the letter said.

A student of IIT Bombay who is associated with the Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle said the representation of SCs, STs and OBCs in faculty posts in all IITs was poor.