Jamshedpur, May 6: The second day of the end-semester examinations passed off peacefully today at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) with police personnel guarding the examination halls even as rumour flew thick and fast.

The teachers on strike were excited when a rumour started doing the rounds that the Union ministry of human resource development, New Delhi, had replaced acting director Akhileswar Mishra with Sushil Kumar Sarangi, the director of NIT, Rourkela.

But neither Mishra, nor Vijay Singh Rana, head (corporate relations), Tata Steel, who looks after the NIT affairs, were aware of any such development.

“Something is expected from Delhi about the appointment of a permanent director here. But I have got no communication from any place in this connection,” Mishra said.

The hearsay actually started last night. It was even circulating that Sarangi would assume charge on May 7.

A section of the agitating teachers claimed that Sarangi, who would have the additional charge of the director of NIT, Jamshedpur, would be receiving his appointment letter from Rana at the office of B. Muthuraman, the managing director of Tata Steel, today.

Rana, however, revealed that there was no communication yet from Delhi about the appointment of a new director in NIT, Jamshedpur.

“It is true that the managing director of Tata Steel is trying to get a permanent director in place of Mishra. But we have not received any communication regarding appointment of a new director so far,” said Rana, who looks after the NIT affairs.

He also said that he was aware of Congress leader and MP Bagun Sumbrui meeting Union HRD minister Arjun Singh with two NIT teachers from Jamshedpur.

They had requested Singh to accept their demand for replacing the acting director of the NIT here with a permanent one.

Rana said the delegation of the NIT lecturers had also requested the Union HRD minister to ensure that the director of NIT, Rourkela, be given dual charge.

About 100 teachers under the banner of National Institute of Technology Teachers’ Association are agitating for replacement of the acting director at the institute.

They believe that their demands would be fulfilled after the acting director is replaced with a permanent director.

Earlier, the agitating teachers were demanding implementation of career advancement scheme. This scheme was meant for bringing about time-bound promotion for the teachers.

On the campus, the students of the tech institute were relieved that they were able to appear in the end- semester according to the schedule.

Rajan Singh, a second- year student, said: “We are confident that the end-semester examinations will be over peacefully. It doesn’t matter that the college administration has to take the help of police. Luck is finally on our side.”