Jamshedpur, July 14: Within a month of taking charge as the director of the technical institute, S.K. Sarangi has changed the administrative set up of NIT, Jamshedpur.

Among those who were replaced, there is former dean (academy) R.J. Singh and dean (administration) S.N. Thakur. Sambhu Saran took over as the dean (academy) but the post of dean (administration) is still lying vacant.

N.K. Narayan, who is the dean (placement) has been given additional charge as dean of planning and development.

Though the reshuffle was a low-key affair, it is being looked as a victory among the teaching staff in the friction-ridden technical institute. National Institute of Technology Teachers’ Association (Nitta) has welcomed the move of the director.

M.K. Agrawal, the president of Nitta, said most of the teachers were displeased with the way R.J. Singh was handling his responsibility as dean (academy).

“There were complaints from students against the dean. He should have been relieved of his responsibilities much earlier,” said Agrawal.

Another key functionary of Nitta, on condition of anonymity, said that those who were replaced were “friends” of the former acting director, Akhileswar Mishra.

“Except for N.K. Narayan, all those who were holding post as deans were not doing their work properly and the teachers as well as the students did not want them to hold the post,” said the teacher.

Meanwhile, the new director, Sarangi, hinted at more changes to take place in days to come.

“Reshuffling of deans was just the beginning. I have to give a shape to the institute. Though there are no incompetent personnel, but there has to be changes in the structure for the institute to get stronger,” said Sarangi.

Speaking on the implementation of Career Advancement Scheme (CAS), the prime issue on which the Nitta agitated, the director said the issue would take some time.“It is an extremely complicated issue and it can be settled only in a board of governors’ meeting, which might take place next month,” he said.

The director said NIT authorities had already given the teachers a chance to take advantage of CAS, but added that the majority of the teachers have boycotted the offer.

“Still I would put the matter before the board of governors, when it is convened,” said Sarangi.