Trade union rivalry forces closure of IIT-Chennai

CHENNAI, February 24: The prestigious Indian Institute of Technology here had to be closed today following trade union rivalry. The institute has been closed till March 2. The union problem acquired caste overtones and threatened to turn into a law-and-order situation. The problem stemmed from a demand for a rise in superannuation age from 60 to 62 years by the IIT Employees’ Assocition, and the failure of the IIT SC/ST Employees Union to join the agitation in support of the demand. The institute has about 3,000 students on its rolls. The lost classes are to be covered later this semester.