Despite having only about 160 employees, NIPER Mohali is embroiled in a staggering number of legal battles. This persistent state of litigation has deeply affected the institution and its personnel.
Dr. Raghuram Rao Akkinepally believed that frequent court cases were detrimental to both the Institute and its employees, including highly qualified scientists and faculty. To address minor grievances internally, he established a Rapid Grievance Redressal Committee. However, this initiative was short-lived, as Dr. V. M. Katoch, Chairman of the Board of Governors (BoG), along with Joint Secretary of the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Rajneesh Tingal, and other BoG members, disbanded the committee.
Dr. Rao also uncovered financial irregularities involving Mr. PJP Singh Waraich, who was withdrawing substantial amounts in the name of using his car for court-related matters. Additionally, the Institute’s official vehicle was being used by Mr. Waraich to attend court hearings. Further, some lawyers on the Institute’s panel were merely seeking adjournments while still being paid. Dr. Rao’s attempt to revamp the legal panel and distribute cases more equitably was met with strong resistance from Mr. Waraich, Dr. Katoch, and Mr. Tingal, making him a target for their opposition.
One of the most significant legal entanglements at NIPER Mohali stems from a CBI investigation. Following raids on various officials across the country, an FIR was registered, implicating several individuals, including Dr. Saranjit Singh (now retired), Mr. Hardip Singh (former Section Officer, Audit), Mr. Rajesh Moza (ex-Deputy Registrar, now with a private university), Mr. Bhupinder Singh (ex-Deputy Registrar, F&A), Mr. M. Jose (retired F/AO), and the late Dr. K. K. Bhutani. Despite eight years having passed, the case remains undecided, and none of the accused have faced consequences.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sanjiv Kumar Taggar, who raised concerns about administrative misconduct, including the mismanagement of the Institute’s swimming pool—where a fatal incident later occurred—was expelled. He is now fighting for justice in court.
Dr. Manjinder Singh Gill, a highly qualified employee with a Ph.D. from a reputed foreign university, also had to approach the High Court after facing discrimination. Despite heading the Technology Development Centre and managing industrial projects, he was denied promotion due to his association with Dr. Rao. Meanwhile, many less qualified juniors have been promoted under Dr. Dulal Panda’s leadership.
Dr. Sanjay M. Jachak, who worked in the Department of Natural Products under former Director Dr. K. K. Bhutani, was never regularized and is now seeking justice in the High Court. Like Dr. Gill, Dr. Jachak also earned his degree from a prestigious foreign university.
Faculty members from the Department of Pharmaceutical Management, including Dr. Sunil Gupta, Dr. Anil Angrish, and Dr. Anand Sharma, have also turned to the courts over their grievances. Shockingly, all three faculty members from the department have had to resort to legal battles.
Another case involves Mr. Kultar Singh Saini, who initially blamed Dr. Rao for certain issues but later expressed support for his leadership. After retirement, Mr. Saini was denied full dues, leading to legal proceedings. The court has twice imposed penalties of Rs. 10,000 each on Dr. Dulal Panda in cases filed by Mr. Saini.
Mr. Avtar Singh, who retired from NIPER’s Engineering Section, had to seek legal intervention for medical reimbursement related to his son’s hospitalization. Public records indicate that, during Dr. Rao’s tenure, he discovered that Mr. Singh had opted for the Institute’s post-retirement medical scheme but was denied rightful benefits. However, Dr. Rao was unable to assist him due to his own repeated suspensions and the disbanding of the grievance committee.
The NIPER Research Employees’ Welfare Association (NREWA), representing technical and scientific staff, filed multiple lawsuits, including one for employee regularization and another for contempt against the Department of Pharmaceuticals Secretary. However, recent developments suggest the association has compromised with authorities, as evidenced by their withdrawal of a case against the BoG.
Mr. Inderjit Singh, the President of NREWA, was a prime target due to his legal activism. He was served a charge sheet, though Dr. Rao attempted to involve him in constructive activities at the Institute. This, too, did not sit well with Dr. Katoch, Mr. Tingal, and Mr. Waraich. On January 23, 2025, Mr. Inderjit Singh withdrew case CWP-10065-2019, which accused the BoG of conducting meetings without meeting quorum requirements. Notably, Dr. Dulal Panda later exonerated him from all charges.
Press reports indicate that a new employee association has emerged, actively advocating for workers’ rights. Recently, they protested by boycotting NIPER Foundation Day. Additionally, Mr. Mohd. Shahid Khan and others withdrew a case (CWP-29678-2017) on February 3, 2025. During Dr. Rao’s tenure, Mr. Khan was an active member of NREWA.
Dr. Animesh Roy, a former scientist at NIPER, was terminated and had to fight a five-year legal battle to return. Even after retirement, he remains in court, seeking an independent panel to hold Dr. U. C. Banerjee accountable. Dr. Roy alleges that Dr. Banerjee wrongfully took credit for his research, yet while Dr. Banerjee retired with honor, Dr. Roy continues to seek justice and compensation for his lost years.
Despite numerous unresolved allegations, several individuals implicated in various controversies have not faced disciplinary action. For instance, a Probe Sonicator went missing from the labs of Dr. Sanyog Jain and Dr. Arvind Kumar Bansal, but no action was taken. Instead, based on their testimony, Dr. Neeraj Kumar was expelled. Similarly, Mr. Jitender Kumar Chandel, who lacked the required qualifications for his position, was hired without consequences.
The High Court has also failed to intervene in questionable appointments, including the case of Mr. PJP Singh Waraich, who was regularized despite subpar academic qualifications—he reportedly passed matriculation, intermediate, and graduation with just 40% marks. The court declined to classify NIPER positions as “Public Office,” limiting judicial intervention.
Dr. Neeraj Kumar has now filed a perjury case (CM-159-LPA 2025 in/and LPA-1067-2015 and LPA-1981-2016), alleging that Mr. Waraich submitted false information, leading to an unfavorable ruling against him. This raises concerns over how many other cases might have been impacted by misinformation.
The ongoing legal turmoil at NIPER Mohali highlights deep-rooted administrative and governance issues. The unchecked power struggles, unresolved grievances, and apparent legal maneuvering have left many employees, both past and present, in prolonged battles for justice. While some cases have been withdrawn or dismissed, the institution remains a hotbed of controversy, with no clear resolution in sight.
