Hat's off KKB for ruining NIPER

NIPER students steadfast in support to terminated teacher

Hindustan Times
SAS Nagar, March 30, 2013

The protest by the students of the National Institute of Pharmaceuticals Education and Research (NIPER), against the termination of a whistle-blower teacher, Prikshit Bansal, entered the third day on Saturday. 

All negotiations between the students and NIPER authorities failed. The students, who have been sitting on a protest outside the gate of the institute, have claimed that the termination of Bansal would affect their research work. This is the first time ever that NIPER students have staged a protest. Intensifying their strike, the students have threatened to proceed on a hunger strike from Monday in case their demands are not met. Students have been raising slogans against corruption. They have also demanded NIPER management to explain allegations of misappropriation of funds. The students have also demanded the extension of Dr Bansal's contract. He had been teaching 60 students and was a guide for projects of 16 students. The students have said that his abrupt termination had affected their academics. The management has, however, claimed that this decision can only be taken by the board of governors.  

Students form committee against corruption 

For the protesting students, the allegations of corruption have damaged the reputation of the institute. Students have now constituted a committed - NIPER Students Against Corruption in Academia (N-SACA). The committee has submitted questions to the officiating director of NIPER regarding allegations of corruption and demanded a reply from him. Students claimed that NIPER was managed on the tax-payers' money, which should not be wasted in any manner.

Support pours in for students 

Unions of the scientists and non-teaching staff have also extended support to the students. In case the deadlock is not broken, these two unions are also expected to sit on protest from Monday.

Students' demand

Students have demanded a written reply from NIPER management on several issues. Here are some of their demands. Students have demanded the copy of a report on action taken by the NIPER board of governors if there was complaint of misappropriation of funds by Prikshit Bansal. Students have asked the officiating director to explain why a department of intellectual property rights not set up at NIPER, though it had been approved in the 11th Five-Year Plan and Rs.2.25 crore had also been released to NIPER. They have also questioned the management on a 'new specialisation in R&D' management, which has not been set up till date. They have also questioned the management about a PhD programme in the “MBA department”. They have said that the programme has not been started, though funds are received every year. Students have also sought details about the procedure used for terminating Prikshit Bansal

NIPER students threaten to go on hunger strike

Express news service : Chandigarh, Sat Mar 30 2013

A day after the students of National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) held a protest against the director of the institute, Professor KK Bhutani, the students have threatened the management that they will go on an indefinite hunger strike. This move came after the management refused to accept certain demands of the students which were discussed in two meetings which were held on Friday.

A two-hour long morning meeting was held between the students and management Friday. The students had demanded that the higher authorities should take back the orders issued to sack Dr Parikshat Bansal, head of the Intellectual Property Rights Department.

Dr Bansal told Newsline, "I went with the students. Many issues were raised by the students regarding the placements and hostel facilities. However, when the question of my termination and that of another professor came up, the director chose not to respond".

One of the students of NIPER said, "The director told us in the evening meeting that a five-member committee has been formed to look into the problems which we had put forth to the director. We are yet deciding when we have to visit the panel. Also, if our demands are not met, the protest shall continue".

Dr Bansal also said that the students were worried about their semester. "Dr Neeraj Kumar (who was terminated last week) had 18 students who were working under him. Even I have a lot of students. All the students will suffer after our termination," said Dr Bansal.

However, Professor KK Bhutani termed the entire process of the termination of the faculty members as a routine procedure. "The contracts for these professors had ended. It is not a termination but it is an expiry of his contract which has not been renewed. For the other issues, a five member committee has been formulated by the Board of Governors (BOG) and the issues will be sorted," said Professor Bhutani.

Two more whistleblower chopped off from NIPER

Over 250 NIPER students hold protest: Want terminated teachers back into service

Tribune News ServiceMohali, March 28

High drama was witnessed at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) when around 250 students staged a dharna in front of the entry gate of the institute and started raising slogans against its director today evening.

Termination of services of Professor Dr Prikshit Bansal by Dr KK Bhutani, director of the institute, this evening was the reason behind the protest.

“Dr Bansal was whistleblower and was trying to unearth prevailing corruption and embezzlement of funds by the management of the institute. We are on strike till the removed teachers will not be taken back into service," said the agitated students, who gathered in front of the entry gate as soon as Dr Bansal was given the letter of his dismissal today.

Dr KK Bhutani said the allegations being levelled against him were wrong. He asked the students that they should make a delegation and could check records tomorrow morning to ascertain the facts.

“It (decision of removal of the professor) was the decision of the board. You can come to me tomorrow to check the records,” said Dr Bhutani while trying to pacify the agitated students.

Dr Bansal said he was made a target as he used to seek information about receiving and spending of funds from the government. “Huge corruption prevails here. A civil writ petition and a PIL have already been filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court in this regard. You see, Rs 13 crore have been sanctioned on a project, proposed by me. How can they terminate my services?, said Dr Bansal. Agitation was on till the filing of the report.