New Delhi, Sep 28: Promising to walk a mile if the faculty of the country's premier institutes, Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) would walk just two steps, HRD minister, Kapil Sibal said that the government would give them autonomy anf flexibility if they delivered on quality.

Speaking to CNN-IBN's Karan Thapar, the minister said, "The IIT system can (be) rest assured Kapil Sibal will not interfere."

Mr Sibal who pointed out that the IIT professor's agitation was based on 'misunderstanding' of the system and how it works, went on to clarify the condition that 10 per cent of the new recruitments should be on contract for three years.

"Those with a PhD or industry experience should be on contract for three years, but IIT directors can recommend taking the exceptional candidates on tenure earlier," the minister said.

While speaking on the four-year gap for promotion of an assistant professor to the next grade, Sibal said that it was a guideline formulated by the IITs and that they were free to change it if they wanted to.

Maintaining his previous position on the openness to talks, Sibal asserted that dialogue is the way forward.

The professors of the fourteen IITs have been protesting, since Thursday, Sep 24 with a hunger strike, demanding better salaries along with removal of conditions on recruitment and promotions.

OneIndia News