Education ministry removes NIOS chairperson after driver, who alleged caste discrimination, kills self

New Delhi: Days after the government cancelled her appointment as the vice-chancellor of Indian Institute of Teacher Education (IITE), the Centre on Thursday removed National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) chief Saroj Sharma owing to an investigation in the suicide of her driver.

Sharma was booked by the Delhi Police in the case; the driver had written to the ministry accusing her of harassment and caste discrimination before he died by suicide.

The ministry issued an official order on Thursday directing Sharma to be repatriated to her parent department – Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. “Consequent upon the approval of Appointments 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 read.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has handed over the charge for six months to Pankaj Arora who is currently the chairperson of the National Council of Teacher Education (NCTE).

Sharma was previously appointed the VC of IITE by the Gujarat government on September 5, but later that month, on September 28, Kumar died by suicide, follwing which the Delhi Police filed a case against Sharma. Sharma, who had till then not taken over the position, was soon replaced by Ramesh Chaturbhai Patel from the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda by the Gujarat government.