Ranchi- Prof. Saroj Sharma, appointed Vice Chancellor of Ranchi University in April, is at the center of a growing controversy linked to a 2024 FIR registered against her under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Tribal student organizations, supported by concerns from Dalit employees and sections of university staff, have protested her appointment, citing the pending case and demanding intervention from the Governor.

The Adivasi Chhatra Sangh recently organised a major press conference at Jacob Hall in Ranchi, where representatives of the student body levelled serious allegations against the newly appointed 45th Vice Chancellor of Ranchi University. The organisation has strongly opposed her appointment, citing a pending criminal case registered against her under the Atrocities Act.

The controversy stems from Prof. Sharma’s earlier tenure as Chairperson of the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) in Delhi. In September 2024, her staff driver, Ram Kumar Pawar, a member of the Scheduled Caste community, died by suicide. According to reports, he left a suicide note accusing Sharma of mental harassment, including casteist slurs and arbitrary transfer orders that allegedly violated service rules. The driver had reportedly complained to the Ministry of Education and the National Commission for Scheduled Castes shortly before his death.

Following the incident, Delhi Police registered an FIR at Samaypur Badli Police Station against Prof. Sharma under relevant sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and BNS Section 108 for abetment of suicide. The case remains under investigation. Subsequently, the Ministry of Education removed her as NIOS Chairperson in October 2024 and repatriated her to her parent institution. She had also faced issues in an earlier appointment in Gujarat.

At the Jacob Hall press conference, Adivasi Chhatra Sangh leaders presented copies of the FIR, references to the suicide note, and other documents to the media. They questioned the appointment process, asking how a person facing such serious allegations could be made head of a prominent university in a tribal-dominated state like Jharkhand. The group argued that the move is insensitive to the sentiments of Adivasi and Dalit communities and raises concerns about a potentially hostile work environment for SC/ST employees and students.

The student organisation has demanded the immediate cancellation of Prof. Sharma’s appointment and plans to submit a memorandum along with supporting documents to the Governor of Jharkhand. Leaders, including Dayaram and others, have warned of larger statewide protests and disruptions of academic activities if their demands are not met promptly. Dalit employees and sections of university staff have also expressed unease over the development.

As of mid-May, Prof. Saroj Sharma continues to hold the position of Vice Chancellor of Ranchi University. The matter is sub-judice, with the Delhi Police case still ongoing and no final court verdict reported. This incident has sparked wider debate on appointment procedures for key academic positions, especially in states with significant SC/ST populations.