NEW DELHI: A Human Resource Development Ministry enquiry has recommended amendments to the Memorandum of Association (MoA) of the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies (IIAS), Shimla, to ensure against any governmental interference in its research activities.

Having found a communal and regional bias in the award of scholarships and fellowships by IIAS during the six years of National Democratic Alliance rule, the D. Bandopadhyay Committee has said the "portion relating to the powers vested with the Government to direct the Institute to give Fellowships should be deleted."

In its interim report, it noted: "Among the 92 Fellows selected from 1999-04 there was not a single Muslim scholar. All their applications were rejected without assigning any reason. Among the 92 Fellows, the Review Committee could identify only four Christians and one scholar belonging to the Scheduled Caste. Partisanship was patent."

It contrasted this with the Institute's track record. "Among the 239 Fellows from 1966 to 1992, there were 22 Muslim scholars. Obviously, the then management did not discriminate scholars on the ground of religion, race, place of birth and/or descent."

Even in the choice of subjects for research at IIAS during the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA rule, it found a marked preference for themes on Indian civilization and philosophy — topics dear to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

Given the biases that had crept into the award of Fellowships, the committee said that equal weightage should be given to all areas mentioned in the MoA. Also, the distribution of Fellowships should ensure that different regions of the country are represented "fairly and equitably."

A similar case has been made out by the committee vis-à-vis participation in academic events organised by IIAS in part or whole.

"The IIAS should break asunder its current `Madhyadesha (Central India) syndrome' and cover the whole of India."

General recommendations

Besides suggesting ways to address the biases, it made some general recommendations to usher in a degree of accountability and bring in fresh blood. It recommended action against those who do not submit their research.

"The Rules, By-Laws should be appropriately changed to fix monetary sanction against the defaulters to the extent of the forfeiture/recovery of funds. ... Least, the Institute should do is to inform other such Government of India institutions that a particular scholar had defaulted."

Age profile

On the age profile of scholars at IIAS, it noted a bias in favour of scholars above 61. Currently, scholars over 60 account for more than 75 per cent of the total intake of Fellows. Saying that this did not augur well for research, it called for a fair distribution of Fellowships to the hitherto neglected age group (between 31-60).

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