Unveiling the NIPER Mohali Regularisation Scandal: Part VI

The wrongdoings at NIPER are becoming increasingly evident as we gather substantial documentary evidence, including credible correspondence, to shed focused light on the issue. As a crusader in this fight, free from prejudice, my sole aim is to draw the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is tirelessly working to eradicate nepotism and corruption at its roots.

I present this evidence to the public and sincerely urge the Modi government to take stringent action to clean up NIPER and restore its former glory. This effort must include disciplining the concerned ministry to ensure lasting reform.

Regularization and appointment of Vikram Singh at NIPER Mohali

Mr. Vikram Singh (full name – Vikram Singh Rahar) is holding the charge as SECTION OFFICER (Administration) of NIPER SAS Nagar (Mohali). Before joining as a Section Officer in NIPER Mohali, he did not possess even a single day’s experience in Administration.

His joining was questionable from Day 1 as he was appointed during the last week of former Director, Dr. K. K. Bhutani’s tenure. In his appointment, the present registrar, Mr. PJP Singh Waraich was in the interview panel. Mr. Waraich was approached by Mr. Vikram Singh through an e-mail dated July 26, 2014, and was told by Mr. Vikram that as Sergeant, he would be issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) by the Air Force so he needed a suitable job. However, he could not be hired immediately as the requirements of Section Officer (Admn.) could not be adjusted according to the qualifications of Mr. Vikram Singh. A time came when Dr. K. K. Bhutani was about to complete his tenure, and an interview as conducted to adjust Mr. Vikram.

Mr. Vikram was also from the Air Force as the registrar himself served in the Air Force. The advertisement was customized and Mr. Vikram was brought as Section Officer (Admn.).

Vikram Singh had not even completed his probation period. His previous experience was not even relevant for NIPER Mohali, an institution of national importance as Air Force job is not at all relevant for a research and academic institution.

Details about the appointment and regularisation of Mr. Vikram Singh:-

1. Mr. Vikram Singh was hired through an interview on 26/12/2016, the last week of the tenure of former Officiating Director, Dr. K. K. Bhutani. In no government organization, an Officiating Director or even a retiring Director is allowed to make a single appointment when he is about to retire within a week.
2. Mr. Vikram Singh sought an appointment through Mr. PJP Singh Waraich, registrar due to his past association in the Air Force.
3. Against advertisement no. 10/2015, the interview was conducted on 26.12.2016 (Monday) for the post of Section Officer (Administration) at NIPER Mohali.
4. Two persons (Dr. Neeraj Kumar and Dr. Parikshit Bansal) who were faculty members raised objections on appointments made by the Director and registrar in the last week of the Director (Dr. K. K. Bhutani) tenure which was not proper as Dr. K. K. Bhutani attained the age of 65 on 24.12.2016 and formally retired on 31.12.2016. Moreover, the name of Dr. K. K. Bhutani figured in the CBI F.I.R. along with Mr. Waraich. These e-mails were sent to the officials of the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Members of the governing board of NIPER Mohali, and employees of NIPER Mohali.
5. Dr. Bhutani was senior most faculty so he was holding the charge as Officiating Director. The retirement age of faculty under the NIPER Act/Statutes was restricted to 60 so a court case was going on in which faculty age (Including the age of Dr. Bhutani to hold the Office) was to be decided and was enhanced to 65 later. In retaliation of these e-mails and open defiance by these two faculty members, the services of Dr. Neeraj Kumar and Dr. Parikshit Bansal were terminated.
6. Mr. Vikram Singh was working as a Sergeant in the Air Force. Mr. PJP Singh Waraich was also from Air Force before his joining at NIPER Mohali
7. Qualification requirements for the position of Section Officer (Administration) were altered based on the qualifications of Mr. Vikram Singh.
8. Mr. Vikram Singh did not have the mandatory experience of administration. The DESIRABLE qualification of legal experience was added in the advertisement. Although no such desirability is required at the Section Officer level and such desirability is required at the Assistant Registrar level only.
9. Mr. Vikram Singh had no essential relevant experience in administration. THE CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCE AND TRADE PROFICIENCY issued by the Indian Air Force was not related to the job profile of the Section Officer.
10. In his previous organization, the Indian Air Force, Mr. Vikram worked as a Clerk (Equipment Accounting) from August 03, 1995 till his retirement on August 31, 2015. Mr. Vikram has knowledge and experience of basic Equipment Accounting and experience of Bills & Budgets, Non-Public Funds (Double entry book Account keeping, etc.).
11. Mr. Vikram had no experience in administration which was an essential qualification for the post of Section Officer.
12. Mr. Vikram Singh was working in the grade pay of Rs. 2400/- till the year 2009 and had worked in the grade pay of Rs. 2800/- from the year 2009. As per the advertisement the candidate should have served in the grade pay of Rs. 2800/- for a minimum period of 10 years. So, Mr. Vikram Singh was not meeting the essential qualifications as advertised for the post for which Mr. Vikram Singh was selected.
13. One candidate was a Flight Lieutenant in the Air Force for 5 years and had managerial experience, was awarded fewer marks in the interview. Vikram Singh was awarded 42 marks out of 50 by Mr. Waraich as he was part of the Selection Committee.
14. Under NIPER Statutes, the Chairman for such selections should have been the Director but the Officiating director nominated the Dean to be the Chairman of the Selection Committee.
15. The Selection Committee was constituted twice. Once with two external members and the second time with three external members, the Selection Committee was constituted. Out of three external members, only two had attended.

Only one candidate – Mr. Vikram Singh was finalized. No other person was put in Wait-list whereas Norm is that three persons are listed in Wait-list so that if one is not joining then the next one can be offered the job.

Present Director – Dr. Dulal Panda knows the whole case but has kept his eyes closed and mouth shut.

Questions:-

1. How has experience as Clerk (Equipment Accounting) become administrative experience?
2. Why the Selection was made in the last week of the tenure of former Officiating Director, the late Dr. K. K. Bhutani who was named in the CBI F.I.R.?
3. How did his connection with the former registrar, named in the CBI F.I.R. help him get higher marks in the interview?
4. Why the Selection Committee was constituted TWICE?
5. Why Dean was made the Committee Chairman when the Selection Committee is headed by the Director?
6. How and why Mr. Vikram got higher marks from Mr. Waraich only?
7. Why a Clerk (Equipment Accounting) was selected and a Flight Lieutenant in the Air Force for 5 years with managerial experience was not selected?
8. Why Mr. Vikram Singh with less than 10 years in the grade pay of Rs. 2,800/- was selected when it was against the advertisement condition?

Questionable Degree of Ph.D.:-

1. Mr. Vikram Singh is writing himself as a Doctor in official documents and website of the Institute. His credentials need to be checked. Ph.D. cannot be pursued through DISTANCE MODE.
2. His degree needs to be verified as he claims to have completed a Ph.D. from Singhania University.
3. No Objection Certificate from the Air Force is required to pursue any degree such as a Ph.D. program
4. As private universities do not fall under the RTI so information could not be obtained from the university. For a Ph.D. course, a minimum attendance requirement exists.
5. A person at the level of Sergeant (Mr. Vikram Singh) is usually not allowed under Air Force rules to join any regular degree.
6. All degrees – LL.B. and LL.M. are regular degrees. Ph.D. also requires a minimum attendance. His degrees are questionable under existing norms. Moreover, lower-ranked officials were not allowed till recently to complete regular courses.
7. Till 2017, the Air Force had restrictions and did not allow employees up to a particular level to get LEAVE due to the rigidity of rules. In the absence of leave, a person cannot complete degrees such as LL.M. or Ph.D.

POST RECRUITMENT CONDUCT

In May 2020, Mr. Vikram Singh, Section Officer (Administration) was driving in a rash manner. He banged his car in a two-wheeler. Driver of a two-wheeler, an outsourced employee of NIPER Mohali was badly injured. It has caused irreparable damage to the worker. Two-wheeler was thrown away at least 100 metres. The outsourced worker has no voice as they are employed by a contractor.

No Inquiry on Mr. Vikram Singh.

No punishment to Mr. Vikram Singh.

No F.I.R.

No penalty to cause irreparable damage to a worker. Mr. Vikram Singh additionally held the charge of Security and Estate Officer (SEO). All security workers are accountable to him. Other workers cannot speak against him due to his position.

Dr. SJS Flora, Director (Additional Charge), and Dr. Saranjit Singh, Acting Director in the absence of Dr. Flora were in full support of Dr. Vikram so they remained silent and mute spectators.

From photographs, one can imagine the fate of the person who suffered.

Accident Scene in which Mr. Vikram Singh caused the accident and due to that accident, an outsourced employee suffered irreparable body damage but the case was closed.

When the regularisation process was going on, Dr./Mr. Vikram Singh was hired. His probation period was going on. Immediately, he was regularized. Information on his appointment (ok or not), performance (during probation itself), and fulfillment of requirements was to be sent by the same registrar (PJP Singh Waraich)to the Ministry/High-Level Committee. Mr. Waraich was the same person who was approached by Mr. Vikram, and he was also in the Interview panel/Selection Panel.