PATNA, Oct. 29 -- A controversy erupted over alleged anti-quota remarks purportedly made in a social media post attributed to Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Patna's Registrar and Dean of Administration, Prof Awalendra Kumar Thakur, prompting the matter to be placed under consideration by higher authorities. Addressing the dispute, Prof Amit Patra, Director of IIT Patna, confirmed that the institute administration has taken cognisance of the issue. "The matter is currently under consideration by the higher authorities, and we are acting in accordance with their guidance. Appropriate updates will be shared publicly at the right time," Prof Patra wrote in an email response to HT. Prof Thakur, however, has vehemently denied the allegations, dismissing the controversy as a calculated smear campaign driven by synthetic media. Speaking to HT, Thakur maintained that fabricated and doctored screenshots were being deliberately circulated to tarnish his professional standing. "Artificial intelligence has been misused by miscreants to defame me," Prof Thakur asserted, insisting he never authored nor shared any statements questioning affirmative action policies. He added that he intends to take legal recourse and register a First Information Report (FIR) against those responsible at the earliest. The premier engineering institute has previously lodged two separate FIRs over similar attempts to malign its reputation. It must be mentioned here that the dispute centers around a purported social media post attributed to Thakur which argued that the Union government must review national reservation policies. The post claimed that reservation was originally intended for a ten-year duration and had since deteriorated into a political "vote bank" instrument detrimental to India's youth and national progress. The controversy has sparked disquiet across the institute's Bihta campus. Faculty members have flagged a potential conflict of interest given Thakur's administrative portfolio overseeing statutory quota compliance. "Public anti-reservation views coming from an official tasked with enforcing affirmative action severely compromise institutional trust," said a faculty member on condition of anonymity. Anil Wagde, a rights activist and founding member of the IIM Alumni Global Network, submitted a formal complaint to IIT Patna Board of Governors Chairman TV Narendran and Director Patra terming the remarks derogatory toward marginalised communities....