Dr Raghuram Rao Akkinepally
When I took charge as Director of the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Mohali, in 2017, I knew the institution was facing challenges. What I did not anticipate was the depth of irregularities and contradictions that would emerge in the handling of vigilance clearance cases within the Institute. One of the earliest…
In the global academic world, being invited to serve as editor of a reputed journal is not merely a personal accolade. It is also an institutional recognition, a chance for the university or research centre to showcase its intellectual capital on the international stage. Yet, at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER),…
The Standing Committee on Chemicals & Fertilizers (2024–25) of the 18th Lok Sabha, chaired by Kirti Azad Jha, has tabled its Eighth Report on the Demand for Grants (2025–26). Among its many observations, the Committee turned a spotlight on the National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPERs), particularly their placement records. The Department of…
The story of NIPER Mohali, once a shining jewel of Indian pharmaceutical education, is now a cautionary tale of how institutional politics, systemic neglect, and administrative battles can derail academic excellence. When the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Mohali, was ranked No. 2 in the country in the Pharmacy category under the…
Dr. V. M. Katoch, who once served as Secretary of the Department of Health Research and Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), was known for preaching the importance of institutional discipline and employee welfare. But when it came to practicing those lofty principles, his record at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical…
When I assumed charge as Director of the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Mohali, my vision was clear: to transform the institute into a true centre of excellence in pharmaceutical education, research, and skill development. By 2018, these efforts bore fruit when NIPER Mohali was ranked No. 1 in the country under…
The Central Information Commission (CIC) has pulled up the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) of the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Mohali, for furnishing what it called an “evasive and misleading” reply to a Right to Information (RTI) application. In its order dated 27 June 2025, the CIC directed the CPIO to…
As a former Director of NIPER Mohali, I have previously raised serious concerns about administrative and academic anomalies within the Institute. These concerns are now under renewed scrutiny following recent recruitments that appear to be marred by irregularities. Dr. Satyendra Kumar Rajput, an alumnus and topper from NIPER Mohali, has filed a writ petition (CWP-20242-2025)…
When I assumed charge as the Director of NIPER Mohali in 2017, I made it a point to personally visit every facility on campus. I wanted to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the infrastructure I was entrusted with. One building, however, stood out—not for its promise, but for its perplexing deadweight. It was the…
How the Department of Pharmaceuticals Undermined Accountability at NIPER The unfolding saga at NIPER Mohali offers a disturbing glimpse into how powerful bureaucrats and pliable administrators can bury institutional integrity, stonewall due process, and reward questionable conduct — all while funded by public money. At the heart of the controversy is Mr. Jitender Kumar Chandel,…
