The Institute of Technology in Banaras Hindu University (IT-BHU) is set to enjoy the coveted IIT status from this year. But many faculty members and its alumni are unhappy with this. They feel the step would dilute the present status of the university.

Ram Bahadur Rai, senior journalist and an alumnus, says, "IT-BHU is no less than any IIT. Now that IT BHU will have a separate building, it will be cut off from the BHU campus.” Rai fears other departments of the university may put up a similar demand, which would end the integrity of the university.

The Institute of Technology (Amendment) Bill 2011, passed in Rajya Sabha early this week, will grant the status of IIT to IT-BHU. The Lok Sabha had passed the Bill last year.

Unlike other IITs which are autonomous, BHU vice-chancellor has been made chairman of the board of directors of IIT-BHU for three years. Either the V-C or any of his nominees will become the vice-chairman after three years. Also, two members of board of directors of IIT-BHU will also be sent by the Executive Council of BHU and three members shall also be nominated by the Executive Council of the BHU to the Senate of IIT, BHU.

While IT-BHU was to be given the status of IIT along with eight new IITs being established in the country, the Bill was not passed in both the Houses of parliament with students of all these eight new IITs as well as IIT-BHU waiting for their degrees. The last two batches of BHU, which passed out in 2010 and 2011, have been issued provisional degrees by the varsity.

Prof Anand Kumar at JNU, formerly with BHU, says, the status will separate the assets and liabilities of the institute from the university. “This will reduce the status of the university. Medical college has already started demanding an AIIMS tag for BHU’s Institute of Medical Science (IMS).” He adds, “BHU was established as an integrated and holistic model but if we start separating its depatments, it will be diluted.”

He says government’s Yashpal committee had recommended that technical and science institutes and universities like IITs should start courses in humanities. “The university has another campus in Mirzapur. The government could have started the institute there,” Anand said.