In 2017 and 2019, an investigation by the directorate of vigilance uncovered irregularities in the recruitment of faculty members at Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University (DPSRU).
The report has been forwarded by Lieutenant governor VK Saxena to the chief secretary, who will instruct the directorate of training and technical education to review the report within 30 days and recommend appropriate action in accordance with the law against individuals found guilty of violating the recruitment rules. The recruitment process was found to have violated the eligibility criteria, according to the vigilance inquiry.
The administrative department of the university is the directorate of training and technical education.
According to officials at Raj Niwas, the directorate received multiple complaints alleging widespread irregularities in the 2019 recruitment conducted by DPSRU. The complaints particularly pointed out the selection of six candidates.
An inquiry was conducted by the department’s vigilance branch after obtaining relevant records from DPSRU. The inquiry concluded that “such large-scale irregularities in the appointment of faculty were not possible without the active connivance of the vice-chancellor, who acted as the chairman of the selection committee”.
The matter was referred to the directorate of vigilance, which also found major irregularities in the recruitment process in 2017. These irregularities included the hiring of candidates who were ineligible, had less experience, and did not have the required educational qualifications. The directorate of vigilance stated that the recruitments in 2019 had also violated the eligibility criteria, indicating corrupt practices and favoritism.
“Furthermore, no verification of educational qualifications and experience certificates was conducted after the appointment. DPSRU did not obtain approval from the competent authority to relax the eligibility criteria,” stated an official.
Approval from the Lieutenant governor was obtained in May of this year, and a notice was served to the DPSRU vice-chancellor by the directorate of vigilance, requesting a reply and the records related to the faculty recruitment conducted by him. The records were subsequently examined by the directorate of training and technical education.
A three-member committee, consisting of the secretary of vigilance, the director of education, and the head of the biotechnology department at Delhi Technological University, was established on June 28 to further investigate the matter.
“The inquiry committee found that the selections involved manipulation, falsehoods, deficiencies, and irregularities, and four individuals, including the VC of DPSRU, the then officiating registrar, an external expert, and a consultant, were indicted,” said an official.
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