Denied seminars abroad, DRDO scientist moves CAT

Written by Pranav Kulkarni | New Delhi | Published on:April 6, 2015 12:00 am – The Indian Express

A DRDO Scientist has alleged the lab denied him permission to visit other countries to attend conferences and seminars

A scientist has moved the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) after his integrity was questioned by the DRDO laboratory where he works.
In his complaint, Gausal Khan, a scientist at the Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Science (DIPAS), Timarpur, has alleged the laboratory denied him permission to visit Japan, China, the Netherlands, and other countries to attend conferences and seminars.
It all started in 2011, when Khan was denied permission to visit Japan. The DIPAS, however, said he did not seek permission in time and despite being denied nod to visit Japan, he went ahead with the trip. The laboratory later filed a complaint with the police.
After working abroad, according to Khan, he in 2010 joined the DIPAS where he was part of the Hematology Group of Research. Khan, a grade ‘D’ scientist, was assigned to submit a project along with two other scientists.
In his petition, Khan said the director of the laboratory, Dr Shashi Bala Singh, denied him permission to visit Japan in February 2011 after he was selected for one “Developing World Scientist” award for the same project.
While Khan alleged the director “kept mum” on issuing him a no-objection certificate till the last date of submission of the project synopsis, the laboratory said Khan did not seek permission for going abroad in time — a claim denied by the scientist.
A chargesheet based on the laboratory’s complaint against Khan was filed in the court in April 2014. It accused Khan of entering into correspondence with “foreign universities/institutions without obtaining prior permission” as required by the government’s policy.
According to the chargesheet, he received USD 1,500 as travel award and represented one “Sinha Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology” at the conference, an allegation denied by Khan.
After the incident, Khan claimed he was denied permission to attend several other seminars and conferences abroad. The DRDO and the Ministry of Defence did not respond to the development when contacted.