Court delays decision on IIM Rohtak director until April

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has decided to temporarily halt any actions regarding Dheeraj Sharma, the director of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Rohtak, until April 2. This decision comes after Sharma contested a March 5 ruling from the central government that launched an investigation into allegations of financial misconduct at the institute and questioned the truthfulness of his academic qualifications. Sharma has challenged a subsequent decision from the education ministry, made on March 13, which asked the board of governors at IIM Rohtak to either suspend him or place him on leave during the investigation. The court began hearing the case on March 18 but could not finish arguments before the deadline. Additional Solicitor General Satya Pal Jain requested more time to present his side. The court has allowed the board of governors to meet but instructed that any decisions made should remain on hold until the April hearing. The investigation was ordered by President Droupadi Murmu, who acts as “visitor of the institute.” The probe focuses on Sharma's time as director, which began in 2017, and includes scrutiny of his academic credentials. Sharma's bachelor's degree is reportedly in the second division, while the job requirement was for a first division. In his court plea, Sharma argued that the government’s actions were unlawful. He claimed the allegations of misconduct originate from before August 2023, when changes to the relevant law were made. He also stated that a separate case regarding his degree is already under review by the court, and that financial audit concerns had already been resolved. On the other hand, the central government contended that the President had the authority to initiate the investigation and did so thoughtfully. They also accused Sharma of hiding important information from both the ministry and the court.