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) before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, highlighting a series of alleged violations in the recruitment process. The court has directed the parties involved to respond by 17.10.2025, the next date of hearing.
According to a copy of the petition shared by one of my former colleagues from the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Dr. Rajput had applied for the posts of Professor and Associate Professor in Pharmacology and Toxicology, advertised under Advt. No. 03/2024 dated 06.04.2024. Notably, this advertisement was released during the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct for the General Elections—a questionable timing for such a critical academic hiring exercise.
Despite being an eligible candidate, currently serving as a Professor (Ad hoc) at Gurukul Kangri (Deemed to be a University), under the Ministry of Education, Dr. Rajput was not selected. NIPER Mohali declared “none found suitable” for the post of Professor, a decision that raises eyebrows.
Dr. Rajput had earlier filed a grievance on 15.03.2024, objecting to what he described as illegal and biased sub-classification within Pharmacology, leading to the arbitrary exclusion of qualified candidates. He alleged that the selection criteria were altered after the publication of the advertisement—a direct violation of statutory norms.
After the unfortunate demise of Dr. Girish Sahni, Chairman of the Board of Governors, on 19.08.2024, Director Dr. Dulal Panda assumed additional charge as Chairman. On 13.09.2024, the eligibility criteria were allegedly revised to include unrelated specializations such as Microbiology, Bacteriology, and Biosafety Level 3. These sudden inclusions, Dr. Rajput argues, drastically narrowed the applicant pool and undermined the principles of fairness and transparency.
Subsequently, a fresh advertisement dated 28.06.2025 was issued for the same post, further raising suspicions. In his petition, Dr. Rajput has named the Union of India, NIPER Mohali, University Grants Commission (UGC), Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), and Dr. Deepika Singh—who was appointed Associate Professor despite previously being deemed ineligible—as respondents.
Dr. Rajput has requested the court to direct the respondents to produce detailed records of the selection process, including minutes, shortlisting criteria, and evaluation files. He has also demanded an independent investigation and punitive action against those found guilty of manipulating the process.
One particularly glaring inconsistency highlighted is that Dr. Deepika Singh, wife of Shri Sandeep Singh, was initially shown as ineligible under screening criteria “A” due to insufficient experience (excluding her PhD tenure). Yet, she was appointed as an Associate Professor. Dr. Rajput points out that the eligibility criteria for Professor and Associate Professor are almost identical, making her selection contradictory and unjustified.
When questioned, the institute reportedly stated that NIPER Mohali follows its own recruitment rules and is not bound by UGC/PCI norms—an assertion that only adds to the opacity surrounding the process.
Dr. Rajput further alleges procedural irregularities: while he and other candidates—some traveling from overseas—appeared for in-person interviews, one candidate was allowed to appear virtually from a nearby location. He contends that his own academic profile—which includes a PhD and post-graduate degree from NIPER Mohali, a GATE percentile of 99.37, a CGPA of 9.38/10, NET qualification, multiple publications, patents, and national awards—was unfairly disregarded.
Crucially, he argues that Dr. Deepika Singh, who received her PhD on 24.08.2020, could not have completed the mandatory eight years of teaching experience as required by the advertisement by the cut-off date. The subsequent change in specialization criteria, according to Dr. Rajput, was not only arbitrary but also aimed at favouring pre-selected candidates.
He also raises questions about Director Dr. Dulal Panda’s academic background. A biochemist by training, Dr. Panda’s research spans microbiology, bacteriology, cell division, chemotherapy, and antibacterial drug development. Dr. Rajput claims that this background has led to a deliberate attempt to reshape the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology by introducing unrelated specializations, thereby marginalizing core pharmacologists.
In my own pending writ petition challenging Dr. Panda’s appointment as Director, I have raised similar concerns regarding his qualifications and experience. His actions now seem to reflect a deeper agenda—to alter the very DNA of NIPER Mohali. If left unchecked, this could irreparably damage the character and mission of a premier institute that has long been a cornerstone of pharmaceutical education and research in India.
One can only hope that reason prevails and corrective measures are taken before it is too late.
