New Delhi: The Centre has removed Saroj Sharma as chairperson of the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), days after the Delhi Police lodged an FIR and questioned her in connection with the suicide of her driver, who had written to the education ministry accusing her of harassment and caste discrimination.
The Appointment Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has handed over the charge for six months to Pankaj Arora, the current chairperson of the National Council of Teacher Education (NCTE). Sharma has been sent back to the Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, her parent department.
The Ministry of Education issued two orders on 23 October enforcing the changes, two days after the ACC approved them. “Consequent upon the approval of Appointment Committee of Cabinet… dated 21st October, 2024 for premature repatriation of Prof Saroj Sharma from the post of Chairperson NIOS to her parent department Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, she is hereby relieved with effect from 23.10.2024,” the order said.
On 18 October, the Gujarat government cancelled Sharma’s appointment as vice-chancellor of the Indian Institute of Teacher Education (IITE). She was appointed on 5 September but was yet to take charge.
Earlier on 25 September, Arora was entrusted with running NIOS till 13 October after Sharma went abroad on leave. However, she soon came under the police lens after her staff driver Ram Kumar, an NIOS employee, took his life on the intervening night of 27-28 September. He left behind a note which blamed her for putting him through mental agony with her casteist slurs and harassment.
Days before his death, Kumar had also written to the education ministry, flagging his complaints. On 24 September, the Department of School Education and Literacy forwarded his representation to Sharma’s secretary. He also approached the National Commission for Scheduled Castes.
In a statement late Friday evening, Sharma said she had requested the Centre for premature repatriation from her role as NIOS chairperson so that she could join IITE. She added that while the Centre approved her premature repatriation after a delay, the Gujarat government, by then, had chosen to appoint another person as the V-C of IITE.
‘Abruptly transferred,’ alleged driver
In his letter to the ministry, Kumar, who left behind a wife, three daughters and a son, wrote that he was “abruptly transferred to the Bengaluru Regional Centre of NIOS… without citing a plausible reason”.
Kumar further alleged that his transfer was in “complete violation” of service rules which entitled a person with less than two years to retire to stay posted in his hometown. Moreover, the Bengaluru centre of the NIOS did not even have a sanctioned staff-car post, or vehicle, Kumar told the ministry.
On 3 October, the Delhi Police wrote to the education ministry, saying it found during inquiry a suicide note left by Kumar “accusing harassment by Sharma including caste-based discrimination and his transfer to Bangalore as the reason for suicide”.
“According to the contents of the statement of Avi Pawar (son of deceased Ram Kumar) a case FIR No. 863/2024, dated 28/09/2024, u/s 108 BNS and 3(2)(v)/3(2)(vii) SC/ST (POA) Act 1989 has been registered at PS Samaypur Badli, Delhi against Mrs. Saroj Sharma (present Chairman of NIOS) and further investigation is in progress. The copy of FIR is attached for your kind perusal please. This is for your kind information and necessary action,” the police added.
Sharma was questioned on 16 October.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
Also read: NIOS chief Saroj Sharma, facing probe over driver’s suicide, yet to join as V-C of Gujarat’s IITE