Probe finds misconduct at IIT Dhanbad

Panel records case of scientific dishonesty by two faculty members

Investigation by a four-member committee formed by Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad to look at possible scientific misconduct by Rashmi Madhuri and Prashant Sharma has been completed. There has been a serious case of scientific dishonesty by the two faculty members. “The report prepared by the committee will soon be sent to the Board Chairman for further action,” says Professor Rajiv Shekhar, Director of IIT Dhanbad. He refused to divulge details of the report.

Papers retracted

Assistant Professors Madhuri (Department of Applied Chemistry) and Sharma (Department of Applied Physics) have 14 papers that have been retracted and two papers corrected for image duplication. All 14 papers were retracted this year. About 25 more papers with problematic images have been listed on Pubpeer, a website that allows researchers to discuss and review scientific papers that have been published. All the papers have issues with images that have been duplicated in same or subsequent papers to represent different materials or experiments.

Talking to The Hindu on June 1, Professor Shekhar had said: “Investigation [into this issue] had already started before I came in as the Director in March-end. Needless to say, we take such issues very seriously … the Board will take a decision depending on the extent of guilt. The investigation will be completed shortly.”

The fact-finding committee, comprising four members from other reputable institutions in India, had looked at all documents to bring out the facts and prepare a charge sheet against the two faculty members. “No one from the institute [IIT Dhanbad] is part of the committee,” Professor Shekhar said.

Talking about procedures once the report is sent to the Board Chairman, he said the two faculty members will be served with a chargesheet once the Board approves the report. “If they accept the chargesheet then it goes to the Board for a decision on penalty,” he says. “If they don’t accept the chargesheet [contest the chargesheet] then another committee will look at their response [and take a decision].” “The next Board meeting will be held during September-end. The entire investigation will be completed by the end of this year. We wish to complete it as soon as possible,” Professor Shekhar said.