The Hindu : New Delhi News : AIIMS panel to decide on Yadav’s Ph.D eligibility

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AIIMS panel to decide on Yadav’s Ph.D eligibility

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Following criticism over the eligibility of Shailesh Kumar Yadav, Deputy Director (Administration) to apply for a Ph. D course from the institute, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has now referred the matter to the academic committee that will decide on the issue on February 18.

The Institute had withheld its decision on whether or not, Mr. Yadav – a 1993 IPS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre – was eligible to do a Ph. D on “Administration of Medico-Legal Procedure and Practices in India” as a sponsored candidate, after doubts were raised over Mr. Yadav’s eligibility.

The AIIMS has already clarified that Mr. Yadav – on deputation to the AIIMS -- was eligible for the course as ancient history and archaeology in which he holds a Masters degree, had applications of archaeological principles, techniques and methodology in the legal context, and hence is allied bio-medical science. But, the AIIMS’ contention is based on the information available from the Wikipedia, authoritative sources in the academic committee told The Hindu.

Though Mr. Yadav has cleared his written entrance exam with very good marks, he was declared ‘unfit’ in the interview as he could not answer the questions of technical nature. At least two members in the panel – R.K. Sharma, additional professor and S.K.Gupta, associate professor, in the Department of Forensic Medicine – have expressed “strong apprehension” that the question paper could have been “leaked” to the candidate. However, acting Director T.D. Dogra, has described these allegations as “biased, prejudiced and unfair attitude” towards the candidate.

It was the Faculty Association of AIIMS that first raised the issue of Mr. Yadav’s eligibility, but now the academic committee members, too, point out that Mr. Yadav has appeared as a ‘sponsored candidate’ but it was not clear who was sponsoring and funding him. Mr. Yadav has produced a no-objection certificate from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare but that only states: “the NOC is issued on the condition that studies do not interfere in the efficient discharge of duties of the candidates and if it is noticed that there he is neglecting duties for studies, permission will be withdrawn without assigning any reason. Further, permission does not entail the government giving him leave for studies of examination.”

This is just a routine NOC and does not suggest that the Ministry was the sponsoring agency. A candidate cannot fund his research if he or she has applied under this specific category, the member pointed out.

On its part, the Ministry claims that the clearance was given to Mr. Yadav after approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the cadre-controlling authority for IPS and the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu informed.

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