Hisar agri varsity VC misrepresented facts, alleges activist

A Hisar-based social activist, Dr Ramesh Punia, has accused Prof BR Kamboj, Vice-Chancellor of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (HAU), of making false claims while submitting his representation for extension of his term as VC, which he secured with effect from April 17, 2025.

Punia stated that in the January 2024 Board of Management (BoM) meeting, Kamboj claimed to have received the prestigious Dr MS Swaminathan Award. “However, records show the award was given by a group, Agri Meet Foundation, and not the Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS), which is the legitimate organisation for awarding the award, and which has conferred this award on only 13 eminent figures which did not include Kamboj,” Punia alleged while sharing documents with 'The Tribune'.

He also refuted Kamboj’s claim of patenting a chemical process for removing gossypol from cottonseed, noting that the patent was filed in 2018 and published in 2019—well before Kamboj assumed the VC's post in April 2021. He also flagged a false claim regarding the university’s top ranking in Haryana, pointing out that NIRF 2024 ranked the HAU 48th, behind MDU (35th), Kurukshetra University (41st), and GJUST Hisar (47th).

Despite these questionable claims, the BoM, including four IAS officers and an ICAR expert, approved his extension citing “emergency circumstances”, he said, alleging that approval was granted without verifying facts, and demanded an impartial probe into it.

He also raised issues regarding Kamboj’s wife, Santosh Kumari, who allegedly claimed House Rent Allowance (HRA) in violation of norms while serving as principal and is now Director of the HAU’s campus school.

Alleging favouritism, the activist claimed that the VC appointed relatives and loyalists to key positions. “Assistant Prof Radhe Shyam, who has been arrested in an assault case and is a relative of Chief Security Officer Sukhbir Singh, was recruited during Kamboj’s tenure. Sukhbir was promoted after alleged changes to eligibility rules, while his wife Bas Kaur was appointed assistant professor and hostel warden,” he claimed.

He further alleged that the services of 52 security guards were recently terminated, and 40 of Sukhbir’s loyalists were hired in their place. He accused Kamboj’s loyal staff of using force against students during protests, with Bas Kaur allegedly intimidating female students.

Demanding immediate action, Punia called for the suspension of Bas Kaur and the arrest of Sukhbir and others involved in the attack on the student and called for urgent government intervention.

While the VC did not respond to calls, the university spokesperson stated that the Agri Meet Foundation had awarded the Swaminathan award, and rejected the allegations, claiming that all appointments and promotions were done as per rules. He also denied the allegations regarding the NIRF ranking.