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Hitting back at the Smriti Irani-led Union Human Resource Development ministry which was blaming IIT Director Prof R Shivgaonker's sudden resignation on possible irregularities related to its Mauritius MoU, the IIT on Monday said that all due clearances and approvals were taken and approved by the HRD ministry.

The IIT hit back clarifying that International Institute of Technology Research Academy in Mauritius is not an extension campus of IIT Delhi, that the IIT's role was simple advisory in nature and no financial commitment was incurred on its part. It has also brought home the point that the final MoU was approved by the HRD ministrt and signed in the presence of then HRD minister Pallam Raju.

IIT Delhi on Monday shot off a communication to the Smriti Irani-led HRD ministry with a detailed sequence of events supported with ten annexures on the Mauritius MoU to clarify its stand on the issue. The IIT also released a press statement saying the same.

In its 42nd meeting on 21st January 2011, the IIT Council had granted in principle approval to set up an institute in Mauritius with the help of the IIT.

Following an agreement between HRD ministry of India and the Education ministry of Mauritius, IIT Council requested IIT Delhi to take an initiative to set up an IIT like institution in Mauritius.

IIT Delhi then set up a six-member team to conduct a feasibility study for the same.

This six-member team visited Mauritius from February 2nd to 6th, 2012 and after deliberations prepared a feasibility report which was presented to the Education Ministry in Mauritius.

This feasibility report said that a five-year period must be dedicated to just building up a research eco system to attract and retain research oriented faculty before starting any regular undergraduate teaching programme.

The proposal to set up IIT Delhi Research Academy in Mauritius was approved by the Senate and BoG of IIT Delhi.

A draft MoU was prepared and on the advice of the MHRD the name was modified to International Institute of Technology Research Academy (IIITRA), Mauritius.

On the request of the Joint Secretary, International Cooperation Cell in HRD ministry, the IIT Delhi Director joined the delegation led by then HRD minister Pallam Raju that went to Mauritius. The MoU was signed on 19th November 2013.

IITRA was inaugurated on July 23, 2014 in Mauritius in the presence of the Director and Deputy Director IIT Delhi who went on the invitation of the Mauritius Research Council. An Executive Director from IIT Delhi has been appointed and the process to recruit faculty has been initiated.

IIT Delhi Director suddenly resigned late last week allegedly after he was pressurised by the HRD ministry to work towards clearing the salary dues to Subramanian Swamy, a BJP leader who has been in a legal wrangle with IIT Delhi for several years now on the issue.