Registrar-cum-CVO of NIPER likely to be relieved of duty

Recently a PHD student of NIPER wrote to PM Narendra Modi alleging that the Registrar-cum-Chief Vigilance Officer of NIPER should not be granted renewal of service; in lieu of him facing corruption charges. The student alleged further that Wing Commander (Rtd.) PJP Singh Waraich, along with six other officials of NIPER, which also includes Director K K Bhutani, face an allegation over their their involvement in a corruption case. All of them are reported to be booked by CBI for an alleged corruption case in January 2016.

Coinciding with this news is the reported decision by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, which is now likely to relieve Waraich of his duties. His term is to end on July 3.

Express reported that the ministry does not seem to be in a mood to continue his services after a PhD student and some former faculty members wrote to Prime Minister and the ministry not to extend the services of Waraich.

In his complaint, the PHD student, who has not disclosed his identity, implied that Waraich's appointment as the registrar of NIPER on June 9, 2011 was given by a selection committee led by acting Director K K Bhutani. His appointment was for a fixed tenure of five years, which comes to an end on July 3. After Waraich was selected, his selection for the post was challenged in Punjab and Haryana Court in November 2012. Even though the appointment was cancelled, he was given permission to complete his term.

However, Waraich implied in his statement that his appointment is valid after a notification was shared by the Centre in 2014. The issued notification regularised employment after abolishing all the contracts. Bhutani refused to comment on the issue.

Highly placed sources in the ministry said to the Express that they received a letter from a former faculty member who alleged that Waraich was booked by the CBI in a corruption case along with six senior officials of the institute including the officiating director Prof K K Bhutani. The sources also added that the complaint was sent to the Personal Secretary to the Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Ananth Kumar, the copy of which is with Chandigarh Newsline.

The sources also disclosed that after receiving the complaint, the PS Vijay Ranjan Singh directed the Secretary of the Ministry Jaipriye Parkash and Joint Secretary Ariz Ahmed to take necessary action. They also said that after the complaint to the PM the ministry is taking the issue seriously and it could cast shadow on Waraich's continuation in the institute.

"The complaint was sent by a former faculty member to the ministry, it was forwarded to both Secretary and Joint Secretary of the ministry, both the officials will see what action can be taken," added a NIPER official.