National Law Institute University (NLIU) Professor Yogendra Srivastava, a self acclaimed “Whistle Blower”, has written a number of letters to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) listing out the alleged instances of corruption, maladministration and mismanagement in the University. Srivastava through his letters has been trying to draw the attention of the CJI to the Rashtriya Vidhi Sansthan Vishwavidyalaya Adhiniyam, the 1997 Act which governs the NLIU. CJI is also a visitor to the University. 

Srivastava pointed out in the letters that NLIU is a University which functions without a vice-chancellor and unlimited powers are bestowed to the Director without being accountable to any authority as there are fundamental infirmities and loopholes in the Act itself. The copies of the letter to the CJI, the Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court and the Madhya Pradesh Law Minister, points out that the University does not comply with the provisions laid down under section 32 of the Act. Further, the section also empowers the visitor to inspect into the affairs of the University, reports TOI.

Srivastava himself is accused of acquiring fours degrees in one year and the executive committee of NLIU has already formed a one-member committee of a retired IAS officer to look into these allegations, reports Daily Bhaskar.

NLIU was in the news last week too for sacking two of its Professors for allegedly awarding marks to three Ph.D students without evaluating their answer sheets. Bar & Bench had reported from Daily Bhaskar that, “Two professors of the National Law Institute University have been indicted for awarding marks to students without evaluating their answer sheets.  Dr. G. S. Bajpai and Dr. Moin Mustazhar were probed by a single member committee headed by Justice V.K. Agarwal who is a retired Judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.”

Speaking to Bar & Bench, Prof. G. S. Bajpai said: “Actually, my matter is already sub judice in the court and in fact, the court has adjourned the matter and said that the final order of the University is to be subject to the final outcome of the court.  Obviously, this order of the Director dismissing us is contempt of the court. The gravity of charge does not match the kind of the penalty and I was not given any opportunity to explain my part.”

He added, “These things show that he (Prof. S. S. Singh) is not fit to be a Director. He has violated all the norms of Principles of Natural Justice. He has not given any opportunity to me, nor has he followed any procedure. There is total misgovernance in NLIU.”

Prof. S.S. Singh, the Director of NLIU Bhopal speaking to TOI said, "The inquiry against them was conducted by a retired judge. There is no need for issuing any show cause notice. NLIU followed necessary procedures in the removal of both professors."

NLIU seems to be going through tough times and internal issues of the University are likely to affect the reputation of the University adversely.