To
The Dean, Academic Affairs
Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
Roorkee, Uttarakhand
Subject: Petition for Revision of Biometric Attendance Policy for Full-Time Ph.D. Scholars
Respected Sir/Madam,
We, the undersigned full-time Ph.D. research scholars, would like to express our concerns regarding the recently implemented biometric attendance policy requiring mandatory IN and OUT marking within fixed working hours (8:45 AM to 5:30 PM).
Ph.D. research is inherently flexible and often demands long, irregular working hours that extend beyond conventional schedules. Many scholars work late nights, early mornings, and well beyond 12 hours a day depending on the nature of experiments, computational tasks, fieldwork preparation, and publication deadlines. Imposing rigid time-bound attendance does not align with the realities of research work and may adversely affect both productivity and well-being.
The requirement of marking attendance twice daily within fixed hours:
- Restricts the flexibility essential for effective research.
- Disrupts experimental workflows and long-duration tasks.
- Fails to account for the diverse nature of research across disciplines.
- Adds administrative pressure without necessarily improving academic outcomes.
In light of the above concerns, we respectfully propose the following:
- Implementation of a single attendance marking per day during working hours.
- Alternatively, a more flexible attendance-making app that works only with the institute's Wi-Fi toaccommodate varied research schedules.
We fully acknowledge the importance of accountability and institutional discipline. However, we believe that a more flexible system will better support research productivity while still ensuring responsibility and transparency.
We sincerely request the administration to reconsider the current policy and engage with research scholars to develop a more practical and research-friendly attendance framework.
We hope for your kind consideration and a positive resolution.
Thanking you.
Yours sincerely,
(Concerned Ph.D. Research Scholars)
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
April 7, 2026
Reached 100 supporters
April 6, 2026
84 Comments
It’s alike I’m working in corporate, on hourly wage. If it’s improves working environment, pls apply it on everyone working in IIT. (including Profs and staff). Rules like this doesn’t have any meaning as I can go department and mark my attendance and come back to room. And again repeat it in evening.
As a research scholar, I believe strict fixed hour biometric attendance does not align with the nature of research work. A flexible system will help maintain productivity and well being.
While running the experiments we can not leave machine unattempted for biometric attendence. This may cause serious damage to machine, sensor etc which are very costly. Second things when we are in flow of doing research it is large chance to forget about attendance. Thanks
research is not a 9 to 5 job. it is deeply personal, ofte unpredictable, intellectually demanding pursuit that thrives on autonomy and flexibility.
We demand: Implementation of a single attendance marking per day during working hours. Alternatively, a more flexible attendance-making app that works only with the institute's Wi-Fi toaccommodate varied research schedules.
We need flexible Time.
I completely express my disappointment regarding these strict rules made by AR Evaluation...
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To
The Dean, Academic Affairs
Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
Roorkee, Uttarakhand
Subject: Petition for Revision of Biometric Attendance Policy for Full-Time Ph.D. Scholars
Respected Sir/Madam,
We, the undersigned full-time Ph.D. research scholars, would like to express our concerns regarding the recently implemented biometric attendance policy requiring mandatory IN and OUT marking within fixed working hours (8:45 AM to 5:30 PM).
Ph.D. research is inherently flexible and often demands long, irregular working hours that extend beyond conventional schedules. Many scholars work late nights, early mornings, and well beyond 12 hours a day depending on the nature of experiments, computational tasks, fieldwork preparation, and publication deadlines. Imposing rigid time-bound attendance does not align with the realities of research work and may adversely affect both productivity and well-being.
The requirement of marking attendance twice daily within fixed hours:
- Restricts the flexibility essential for effective research.
- Disrupts experimental workflows and long-duration tasks.
- Fails to account for the diverse nature of research across disciplines.
- Adds administrative pressure without necessarily improving academic outcomes.
In light of the above concerns, we respectfully propose the following:
- Implementation of a single attendance marking per day during working hours.
- Alternatively, a more flexible attendance-making app that works only with the institute's Wi-Fi toaccommodate varied research schedules.
We fully acknowledge the importance of accountability and institutional discipline. However, we believe that a more flexible system will better support research productivity while still ensuring responsibility and transparency.
We sincerely request the administration to reconsider the current policy and engage with research scholars to develop a more practical and research-friendly attendance framework.
We hope for your kind consideration and a positive resolution.
Thanking you.
Yours sincerely,
(Concerned Ph.D. Research Scholars)
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
April 7, 2026
Reached 100 supporters
April 6, 2026
84 Comments
People are working in night too after 5:30 pm so acc to this rule no one should allow to work after 5:30 and there should also be holiday on weekends but we are having working day on Saturday too. So make it clear that after 5:30 no lab should be operatable.
It’s alike I’m working in corporate, on hourly wage. If it’s improves working environment, pls apply it on everyone working in IIT. (including Profs and staff). Rules like this doesn’t have any meaning as I can go department and mark my attendance and come back to room. And again repeat it in evening.
As a research scholar, I believe strict fixed hour biometric attendance does not align with the nature of research work. A flexible system will help maintain productivity and well being.
While running the experiments we can not leave machine unattempted for biometric attendence. This may cause serious damage to machine, sensor etc which are very costly. Second things when we are in flow of doing research it is large chance to forget about attendance. Thanks
research is not a 9 to 5 job. it is deeply personal, ofte unpredictable, intellectually demanding pursuit that thrives on autonomy and flexibility.
We demand: Implementation of a single attendance marking per day during working hours. Alternatively, a more flexible attendance-making app that works only with the institute's Wi-Fi toaccommodate varied research schedules.
We need flexible Time.
I completely express my disappointment regarding these strict rules made by AR Evaluation...
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People are working in night too after 5:30 pm so acc to this rule no one should allow to work after 5:30 and there should also be holiday on weekends but we are having working day on Saturday too. So make it clear that after 5:30 no lab should be operatable.