MUMBAI:
Theoretical physicist Sandip Trivedi (52), whose appointment as
director of the prestigious Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
(TIFR) was approved by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on June 3,
assumed office on Wednesday evening. His candidature was rejected by the
PMO in March. After the council of management of the institute
requested the PMO to reconsider his appointment, the appointments
committee of the cabinet (ACC) approved it. Prime Minister Narendra Modi
is the ACC's chairman.
A professor from the institute said an announcement was put up on the notice board at 5.15pm on Wednesday. Officiating director E V Sampathkumaran relinquished duties at the same time. Institute officials claimed that Trivedi was reluctant to take charge as director initially, but agreed later. Trivedi's decision came after a meeting with some members of the council of management of the institute last week, a professor said.
"Till last week, we were told that he was unwilling to take charge. We do not know what happened later. The decision was long-pending," said the professor.
Department of Atomic Energy secretary R K Sinha said he was planning to take charge soon. "He was not reluctant but had some ongoing research which he wanted to finish. But I have not gone into the details," said Sinha. Trivedi was unavailable for comment.
Trivedi was appointed by a search committee headed by eminent scientist C N R Rao from the institute's council of management in January. As per the bye-laws of the institute, the director is appointed by invitation after approval from the Government of India, Maharashtra government and trustees.
However, the central government had rejected Trivedi's candidature in the first week of March and had told the institute to release advertisements and invite applications for the post.
He resigned from the post and Sampathkumaran was appointed as officiating director. The centre agreed after the council urged it to reconsider the candidature. -TOI
A professor from the institute said an announcement was put up on the notice board at 5.15pm on Wednesday. Officiating director E V Sampathkumaran relinquished duties at the same time. Institute officials claimed that Trivedi was reluctant to take charge as director initially, but agreed later. Trivedi's decision came after a meeting with some members of the council of management of the institute last week, a professor said.
"Till last week, we were told that he was unwilling to take charge. We do not know what happened later. The decision was long-pending," said the professor.
Department of Atomic Energy secretary R K Sinha said he was planning to take charge soon. "He was not reluctant but had some ongoing research which he wanted to finish. But I have not gone into the details," said Sinha. Trivedi was unavailable for comment.
Trivedi was appointed by a search committee headed by eminent scientist C N R Rao from the institute's council of management in January. As per the bye-laws of the institute, the director is appointed by invitation after approval from the Government of India, Maharashtra government and trustees.
However, the central government had rejected Trivedi's candidature in the first week of March and had told the institute to release advertisements and invite applications for the post.
He resigned from the post and Sampathkumaran was appointed as officiating director. The centre agreed after the council urged it to reconsider the candidature. -TOI
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