GORAKHPUR: A senior medical administrator’s removal from two of India’s premier institutions has now escalated into a criminal case, raising questions about admissions procedures, income disclosures, and the boundaries of authority within publicly funded medical colleges.
A Certificate That Opened the Door
In August 2024, admission to an MD seat at AIIMS Gorakhpur was granted to Dr. Auroprakash Pal on the basis of a certificate declaring him as belonging to the Other Backward Class (Non-Creamy Layer). According to court records, the certificate played a decisive role in securing the seat.
The document later came under scrutiny when it emerged that Dr. Auroprakash Pal’s parents—Dr. G.K. Pal and his wife, Parvati Pal—had a combined annual income exceeding ₹80 lakh, well above the eligibility threshold for the non-creamy layer category. The discrepancy prompted administrative attention and eventually moved beyond internal review.
Administrative Fallout at AIIMS
When the matter reached the Union Health Ministry, action followed swiftly. Dr. G.K. Pal was removed from his post as Executive Director of AIIMS Gorakhpur. Subsequently, he was also relieved of his position as Executive Director of AIIMS Patna, where he had been transferred after his Gorakhpur tenure.
Dr. Pal had served as Executive Director of AIIMS Gorakhpur from January 3, 2024, to September 27, 2024. During this period, according to the complaint now before the court, the admission of his son was facilitated on August 30, 2024. After his removal from both AIIMS posts, Dr. Pal was posted to JIPMER, Puducherry.
From Complaint to Criminal Case
The case took a sharper turn following a petition filed by Ashutosh Kumar Mishra, a resident of Divyanagar in the Cantt police station area of Gorakhpur. Acting on the complaint, Chief Judicial Magistrate Triveni Shrivastava issued an order on November 7, directing the registration of a criminal case.
Following the order, the police registered a First Information Report for cheating against Dr. J.K. Pal and his son, Dr. Auroprakash Pal. According to police officials, the FIR centers on allegations that incorrect representations were made to obtain the admission, leading to an unfair allocation of a postgraduate medical seat.
A Rare Precedent in a Premier Institution
Officials familiar with the proceedings said this is the first instance in which an FIR has been registered against a former Executive Director of AIIMS in connection with an admissions-related matter. The case has drawn attention within medical and administrative circles, not for its legal arguments alone, but for the unusual step of criminal proceedings following what initially appeared to be an internal administrative issue.
As the investigation proceeds, the focus remains on the specific sequence of actions taken during Dr. Pal’s tenure, the documentation used for admission, and the decisions that followed once questions were raised
