OBC-NCL Certificate Scandal: AIIMS Patna Director’s Son’s Admission to AIIMS Gorakhpur Investigated

New Delhi/ Patna: The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has set up a three-member panel to investigate alleged irregularities in the issuance of an OBC-Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) certificate to Dr Auroprakash Pal, son of Dr Gopal Krushna Pal, Executive Director of AIIMS Patna. The certificate reportedly facilitated Auroprakash’s admission into an MD course at AIIMS Gorakhpur, where his father also holds additional responsibilities as Executive Director.

The inquiry follows complaints that Dr Auroprakash Pal was issued two OBC-NCL certificates from different Patna authorities, the first in January and another in April, raising concerns about the legitimacy of the process. Both certificates were issued by local revenue officers in Phulwarisharif and Danapur blocks.

In a parallel move, the Patna district administration has launched its own investigation, forming a committee led by an Additional District Magistrate (ADM). This panel, which includes the district welfare officer and accounts officer, will probe the procedures leading to the issuance of Auroprakash’s OBC-NCL certificate.

An official order from the health ministry, dated September 24, mandated the inquiry, stating, “A committee is hereby constituted to inquire into the complaints of irregularity in the issuance of the non-creamy layer OBC certificate of Dr Auroprakash Pal, which led to his admission to MD Microbiology at AIIMS Gorakhpur, in violation of existing rules and guidelines.”

The union probe committee is composed of Dr Manashvi Kumar, Joint Secretary; Priyadarshika Srivastava, Director of the Institute of National Importance (INI); and Sachin Kumar, Director of Vigilance and Liaison Officer, OBC. The ministry has asked for a report to be submitted within a week of the order’s issuance.

As per government guidelines, children of Group A or Class I officers of the All India Central and State Services, recruited directly, do not qualify for the OBC non-creamy layer status and are not entitled to reserved benefits.

Dr Gopal Krushna Pal, responding to the allegations, denied any wrongdoing. He stressed that the responsibility for issuing the OBC certificate lies with the Bihar government and maintained that all information provided was accurate. “The competent authority, being a subject expert, should have refrained from issuing the certificate if my son did not meet the criteria,” Dr Pal said in his defense.