Two years after he resigned as chairman of the Board of Governors of Indian Institute of Technology Mumbai, nuclear scientist Anil Kakodkar may soon head IIT Roorkee.
Kakodkar had resigned following alleged differences with former HRD Minister Smriti Irani.
The ministry under Prakash Javadekar has now recommended his name to President Pranab Mukherjee for the post of chairman of the Board of Governors of IIT-Roorkee and is awaiting approval, which is likely in a couple of days time.
Kakokdar, 73, had resigned in 2015 after a disagreement with Irani over the choice of an IIT director.
"Kakodkar's name has been recommended for the post of chairman of Board of Governors at IIT-Roorkee. His consent has also been taken in the process," official sources in the ministry said.
If the President approves the appointment, Kakodkar will succeed current chairman Ashok Mishra.
While Irani had denied any differences with Kakodkar saying he had resigned due to personal differences, the latter had said after quitting that he cannot be party to any wrongdoing.
A renowned scientist, Kakodkar has also worked on many key education committees. A committee under his Chairmanship has worked out a detailed report for greater autonomy of IITs and taking them to world class level. He also chaired an Empowered Committee to implement the recommendations. Another committee led by him has carried similar exercise in the context of NITs.
