Researchers Ask President to Intervene in Controversial ISRO Bigwig Transfer

One of K. Sivan's first moves as ISRO administrator was to 'downgrade' the executive of the Space Applications Center – a move numerous insiders consider to have been persuaded by reasons other than proficient lead.

Manager's note: In July this year, Tapan Misra, who had since mid 2015 been the chief of the Space Applications Center, Ahmedabad, was suddenly moved out of his position and made consultant to K. Sivan, the new director of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). There was far reaching, yet challenged, theory that Sivan had acted along these lines after Misra's restriction to expanding privatization of the Indian spaceflight program, since it had something to do with the disputable GSAT-11 satellite mission getting slowed down or due to inward governmental issues. One way or the other, Misra's new part – as consultant – seemed to have been made recently for him, and was seen by insiders as an approach to sideline his impact inside ISRO and remove him from dispute as a potential future administrator. It is in light of this contention that the accompanying letter, made accessible in full, was drafted and marked by a gathering of researchers from around India asking that the president intercede in ISRO's inward issues.

The marks were gathered at the activity of Gauhar Raza, P.V.S. Kumar and Subodh Mahanti.

The Hon'ble President of India

Dear Sir,

We have perused the report of a spurred and politically designed exchange of Tapan Misra, an ISRO researcher, in a segment of media, with most extreme concern. One of the daily papers revealed that "authorities said his arrangement as a counsel to the present administrator basically edges him out of the race to head the space office. … It is a consultative post, not an official one. The administrator has dependably been chosen from the pool of official chiefs. Additionally, such a post never existed in the association". Neither the Government of India nor ISRO has reacted to these reports. Considering the significance of magnificence that we have accomplish in space look into, the country anticipates an official illumination.

The media additionally revealed that Misra has been exchanged to ISRO Headquarters, for two reasons: to begin with, on the grounds that he had restricted deferral in a task, and second, due to he contradicts the move to privatize ISRO. On the off chance that this is valid, at that point the demonstration of exchanging Misra will cause far reaching demotivation among academic network as it constitutes a solid flag to researchers to either adjust their perspectives to the political forces of the day, or else be set up to move somewhere else in the event that they need to hone autonomous logical enquiry. Logical brilliance would appear not to issue any more.

We don't see this as a detached occurrence. We as a country have manufactured, ISRO, Atomic Energy Commission, CSIR, DRDO, IARI, and a universe of other connected research foundations with a culture of soundness, opportunity to seek after research and to take an interest in global coordinated efforts. The country has taken a gander at these extraordinary logical foundations, made amid the previous 70 years, with expectation and regard. The general population of India are persuaded that these logical foundations have been the bedrock of much advancement and have conveyed trees to the country.

We trust that these foundations have contributed fundamentally to country assembling exactly on the grounds that they were to a great extent kept protected from tight and tightened political impedance and controls. History all around the globe has demonstrated that science advances through opportunity of thought, flexibility of articulation and flexibility to courageously investigate unfamiliar landscape.

In addition, the advance of science additionally requires a domain of logical disposition. Science can't be led effectively in a general public that does not regard science or established researchers. It is our sacred obligation as residents of India to"develop and advance the logical temper", according to Article 51 A(h) of our Constitution, which is, obviously, likewise authoritative on your legislature.

In the ongoing past, we have seen obstruction in logical foundations as well as a managed arrangement of assaults on logical temper. Numerous who hold places of sacred obligation in your legislature, have issued informal proclamations in light of individual convictions. We unequivocally feel that between demonstrations of obstruction, correctional activities and spurred arrangements from one viewpoint, and making an antagonistic air against spreading logical temper among people in general everywhere, on the other, will have sweeping results adverse to the national advance.

We request your dire intercession.

1. Mewa Singh Distinguished Professor (forever), and J.C. Bose Fellow University of Mysore

2. Shyamal Chakarvarti, Professor, Calcutta of University

3. Wasi Haider Former, Chairman, Department of Physics, AMU, Aligarh

4. E. Harbabu, Former Pro VC, University of Hyderabad

5. Irfan Habib Former Professor and Scientist, NUPA

6. Subodh Mahanti Former Director, Vigyan Prasar

7. Gauhar Raza Former Chief Scientist, CSIR, India,

8. PVS Kumar Former Senior Scientist, CSIR

9. Dinesh Abrol, Former Chief Scientist, CSIR

10. Amitabh Joshi Evolutionary Biologist, Jawaharlal Nehru Center for Advanced Scientific Research

11. K. Kannan Retired Professor (Biotechnology), Former Vice Chancellor, Nagaland University

12. Jay Prakash Convener, Bhopal Gas Tragedy Movement, Delhi Science Forum

13. Aniket Sule, Reader, Homi Bhabha Center for Science Education, Mumbai

14. R.D. Rikhari Former, Editor Invention Intelligence, NRDC

15. Amitabh Pandey, Amateur Astronomer, Consultant Vigyan Prasar

16. Parthiv Basu, Professor, University of Calcutta

17. Ahmar Raza, Former Adviser, Ministry of Alternative Energy

18. Gautam Gango Paadhya, Professor, University of Calcutta

19. Surjit Singh, Expert Public Understanding of Science, NISTADS, CSIR

20. Kausar Wizarat, Former Asst. Prof. NUEPA

21. Ashok Jain, Former Director, NISTADS, CSIR

22. R.S. Dahiya, Retd. Senior Professor Surgery University of Hissar, Rohtak

23. Deepak Verma, Science Documentary Producer

24. Rakesh Andania, Science Documentary Producer

25. A.K. Arun, Public Health Activist, Health Education Art Life Foundation

26. Prem Pal Sharma, Science Writer, Retd. Service of Railways

27. Satish Kalra, Retired educator, Veterinary Microbiology, CCS, Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar

28. M.S. Narwal, Sr. Researcher, Retd., Haryana Agricultural University

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Researchers Ask President to Intervene in Controversial ISRO Bigwig Transfer