The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Mohali has been plagued by multiple instances of scientific misconduct, plagiarism, and retracted research papers involving its faculty. Despite these serious allegations, many of the accused have retired without facing any repercussions, while others have been promoted to senior positions within the institution, including as Heads of Departments and Deans.
A committee comprising the Secretary of the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Joint Secretary Rajneesh Tingal, and senior officials Jitendra Trivedi and M. K. Bhardwaj, designated all implicated faculty members as regular employees. This decision raises questions about the scrutiny applied in their appointments, especially when allegations of ethical breaches were already present.
Among those with a history of retracted research papers, Dr. Uttam Chand Banerjee stands out as the most prominent. Despite multiple retractions and errata in respected journals, he retired without facing any institutional action and is now employed at a private university. Following him, Dr. Kulbhushan Tikoo, Dr. Gopabandhu Jena, and Dr. Sanyog Jain also have records of retracted research papers and accusations of scientific misconduct.
Dr. Animesh Roy, a scientist at NIPER Mohali, filed a complaint during the tenure of Director Dr. Raghuram Rao Akkinepally, alleging that Dr. Banerjee had destroyed his career. Dr. Roy claimed that Dr. Banerjee published his research under Dr. Banerjee’s name without giving him due credit. As a consequence, Dr. Banerjee’s Tata Innovation Fellowship was withdrawn after the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) reviewed the matter. Internal file notations revealed that the DBT Secretary recommended forming a high-level committee to investigate Dr. Banerjee’s ethics and suitability for his position. However, no further action was taken. Instead of addressing the complaint, NIPER Mohali dismissed Dr. Animesh Roy. He has since been fighting a legal battle to seek justice and recover five years’ worth of unpaid service dues.
In 2008, the Board of Governors of NIPER Mohali formed a committee led by Prof. Ramesh Chandra, along with Prof. Harmanjit Singh Hira, the Dean of NIPER Mohali, and a representative from the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals. The committee found Dr. Banerjee guilty of scientific misconduct. Despite this, he continued to be promoted, serving as Head of two departments—Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Technology (Biotechnology)—and even as the Dean.
A report by Rajni Shaleen Chopra, published in The Indian Express on June 8, 2011, confirmed that Dr. Banerjee was denied a prestigious fellowship due to plagiarism charges. Despite this external acknowledgment, NIPER Mohali took no action against him.
Several research papers co-authored by Dr. Banerjee have been retracted or corrected in reputed journals. Some of these include:
- Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering (DOI: 10.1007/s00449-018-1913-4)
- Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology (DOI: 10.1007/s00253-016-7708-O)
- Bioconjugate Chemistry (DOI: 10.1021/bc2000484)
Typically, such serious ethical breaches result in the removal of faculty members. For example, at IMTECH—an institution where Dr. Banerjee previously served, a senior scientist was removed over plagiarism charges. However, NIPER Mohali did not follow this precedent.
The committee that regularized Dr. Banerjee’s position lacked any representation from scientific experts in the pharmaceutical domain. Despite media reports and an internal inquiry finding him guilty of misconduct, his services were deemed satisfactory. This raises concerns about the qualifications and decision-making processes of such oversight committees.
Given the numerous cases of misconduct at NIPER Mohali, a thorough Scientific Audit is warranted. Traditional audits by agencies like the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) do not cover scientific ethics, making it imperative to establish a specialized investigative body for such matters.
Despite controlling substantial research funds, Dr. Banerjee failed to produce a single commercialized patent or execute consultancy work of significance during his tenure at NIPER Mohali. This lack of tangible contributions further underscores the inefficacy of oversight mechanisms.
The culture of misconduct at NIPER Mohali extends beyond Dr. Banerjee. Dr. Kulbhushan Tikoo, Dr. G. B. Jena, and Dr. Sanyog Jain have also faced plagiarism charges and had research papers retracted. Reports in The Indian Express, including the July 11, 2016 article titled Three scientists caught in plagiarism row, top publisher retracts article after 14 years, and the August 13, 2014 article by Gagandeep Singh Dhillon titled Cancer journal retracts article by NIPER scientists, highlight their involvement.
Despite these allegations, Dr. Kulbhushan Tikoo has been promoted as the Dean of NIPER Mohali, while Dr. Sanyog Jain has been appointed Head of the Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis. Their elevation, despite clear records of scientific misconduct, suggests that integrity is not a priority in leadership appointments at the institution.
The persistent issues of plagiarism, retracted research papers, and unethical practices at NIPER Mohali highlight systemic failures in oversight and accountability. The promotion of individuals with proven records of misconduct raises serious questions about the institution’s commitment to academic integrity. Immediate interventions, including a scientific audit and an independent review committee with experts in pharmaceutical sciences, are necessary to restore credibility and prevent further damage to the institution’s reputation.
If such unethical practices continue unchecked, NIPER Mohali risks becoming a cautionary tale of how a lack of accountability can erode the integrity of an esteemed institution.
