Rourkela, Sept. 22: The director of the prestigious National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, has suspended the institute's registrar.

Director Sunil Sarangi has intimated all staff members that the registrar of the institute, Santosh Kumar Upadhyaya, has been suspended. The move has become the talk of the town here.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Sarangi said: "I had to take this step because there was no other way out. He has been suspended for insubordination and dereliction of duty."

The director said the suspension had been done following the institute's statute.

"The 26(1) clause mentions that the director has the power to suspend the registrar and I have done it within the ambit of rules and not beyond it," said Sarangi.

He said he took the decision only after he receivedthe necessary clearance from the central government.

The suspension is being speculated as the result of a tussle between the honorary chairperson of board of governors, Vasantha Ramaswamy, and the Union human resources development ministry.

The standoff between the director of the technology institute on one side and Ramaswamy had been continuing for some time over the inclusion of two board members whose term had lapsed in March.

Sarangi, the director, had asked the registrar, who is the secretary to the board of governors, to revoke the orders. But, no action was taken.