Vigilance notice to DSCI over ‘illegal’ recruitment during ex-director’s tenure

The Directorate of Vigilance has issued a notice to the Delhi State Cancer Institute (DSCI) over the appointment of an assistant professor during the tenure of Dr Vatsala Aggarwal as the institute’s director

Published on: Jul 18, 2026, 08:22:02 IST

By Ridhima Gupta

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The Directorate of Vigilance has issued a notice to the Delhi State Cancer Institute (DSCI) over the appointment of an assistant professor during the tenure of Dr Vatsala Aggarwal as the institute’s director.

Vigilance notice to DSCI over ‘illegal’ recruitment during ex-director’s tenure

“You (DSCI) are requested to take necessary action in the matter and provide the action taken report/factual report… positively for submission to the central vigilance commission,” read the July 1 notice, seen by HT. “You are requested to submit the action report immediately,” it added.

A notice was earlier sent on August 22, 2025, to the DSCI over the appointment following a complaint by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Somnath Bharti, alleging that recruitment rules were manipulated to favour certain candidates. In the complaint dated June 10, 2025, he argued that the post for which the appointment was made did not exist earlier.

HT reached out to DSCI but had not received a response at the time of going to press.

According to officials, who do not wish to be named, the vacancy was framed in a manner that favoured a particular candidate and notified without the approval of the governing council or the chief secretary of the Delhi government.

Dr Aggarwal was appointed as the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) in August 2025. The appointment follows the voluntary retirement of Dr Rati Makkar, who had held the post for only about three months. Dr Aggarwal is currently under arrest in connection with the alleged irregularities in the procurement of equipment and medicines.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ridhima Gupta
Ridhima Gupta is a Principal Correspondent at Hindustan Times, where she covers healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and public health policy. Her reporting centers on Delhi’s major hospitals (AIIMS, Safdarjung, Lok Nayak), the state health department, and emerging medical trends. Ridhima is particularly interested in reporting on healthcare issues through the lens of women, children, and persons with disabilities. Her work often explores the intersection of healthcare and public policy, examining how these factors shape access health care. Based in New Delhi, many of her reports have led to direct government action over the years, in different city. Earlier this year, she completed a media training workshop on the Impact of Extreme Heat on Health, organised by the Global Strategic Communications Council (GSCC), further strengthening her interest in reporting on the intersection of climate change and public health. A postgraduate from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, Ridhima has around a decade of experience in journalism. She began her career as a trainee television reporter with Mirror Now in Mumbai and has since worked across multiple cities, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Delhi, contributing to both print and broadcast newsrooms. She is a recipient of the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022) for her reporting on education, disability, and women’s issues. Before joining Hindustan Times, Ridhima worked with The Times of India, New Indian Express and News18. A native of Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, Ridhima completed her undergraduate studies in Biotechnology. And when she is not working as a journalist she likes to paint and go on nature hikes.Read More

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