HC directs to use disclaimer in IIT Metro station

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked Delhi Metro to put up disclaimer notices that the coaching centre, FIIT-JEE, is in no manner connected to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).

Justice Vibhu Bakhru directed that the disclaimer should be of similar font and size in which FIIT-JEE was written at the IIT Metro station or any other place where the name had been used.

IIT-Delhi protested after the IIT-Delhi Metro station, located just outside the institute's campus, was named "FIITJEE-IIT" after Delhi Metro auctioned the naming right of the station to the coaching institute.

IIT-Delhi protested to the Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry and said the co-branding signage gave a wrong message that the engineering institute had a partnership with the coaching institute.

After IIT-Delhi flagged the matter, the HRD Ministry asked the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry to look into it.

The IIT sought directions to the Delhi Metro to not use its name in conjunction with that of FIIT-JEE, claiming it was tarnishing the image of the premier engineering institute.

The institute said in its plea that due to the coupling of the names, it was getting queries and complaints from aspiring candidates, parents and even alumni asking if FIIT-JEE was the official coaching partner for those aspiring to gain entrance to IIT.

So far, DMRC has auctioned naming rights in over 40 Metro stations across the capital.

--IANS

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