Rohtak: Court Stays PGIMS Chief's Extension as MDU Faculty Wins Shekhawati VC Post and City Celebrates Asian Games Gold
Rohtak featured in three distinct national stories this week spanning healthcare governance, academic achievement, and sporting pride. The Haryana High Court stayed the politically motivated service extension of the PGIMS medical superintendent, drawing attention to questions about merit versus patronage in public health appointments. On the same day news emerged of an MDU faculty member being appointed to lead a Rajasthan university, the city also erupted in celebrations as Shafali Verma led India to Asian Games gold in women's cricket — a trifecta that illustrates the city's outsized presence in India's civic and cultural life.
🗳️ High Court Stays PGIMS Rohtak Chief's Politically Endorsed Service Extension
The Haryana High Court has stayed a three-year service extension granted to Dr Kundan Mittal, the medical superintendent of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences in Rohtak, casting uncertainty over the leadership of one of Haryana's most prominent public health institutions. The extension, awarded by the government led by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, drew scrutiny after a letter written by former BJP minister Manish Grover to the Chief Minister's Office came to light. In the letter, Grover described Dr Mittal as a pillar of support — a characterisation widely interpreted as a reflection of political loyalty rather than any evaluation of the official's administrative record or professional standing. The court reportedly found the grounds for the extension inadequate and stayed the decision pending a full hearing of the matter. PGIMS Rohtak is a leading public medical institution in Haryana, and its medical superintendent plays a central role in the day-to-day administration of the facility. The case has raised broader questions about the proper criteria for awarding service extensions at autonomous public institutions, and whether elected representatives should be able to intervene in such decisions through private correspondence to a chief minister. With the stay now in effect, Dr Mittal's extended tenure is suspended. The episode is likely to prompt scrutiny of similar administrative appointments across Haryana's public healthcare system and may invite the court to lay down clearer standards for how extensions of service should be evaluated and justified. [2]
🎓 MDU Rohtak Faculty Member Named Vice-Chancellor of Shekhawati University in Sikar
Dr Yudhveer Singh, a faculty member associated with Maharshi Dayanand University in Rohtak, was appointed as Vice-Chancellor of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Shekhawati University in Sikar, Rajasthan, following orders issued by the Rajasthan Governor in late September 2026. The appointment was part of a wider round of vice-chancellor designations across Rajasthan state universities, which also covered new heads for Rajasthan University and Maharaja Ganga Singh University in Bikaner. Shekhawati University, whose full name honours Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, serves students across the Shekhawati belt — a region historically associated with strong educational ambitions and a large diaspora. Dr Singh's selection from within MDU Rohtak's faculty network reflects a continuing tradition of cross-state academic exchange that connects Haryana's higher education ecosystem to the expanding university networks of neighbouring Rajasthan. The appointment was welcomed in Rohtak as recognition of the quality of the academics working within MDU's institutional environment. Governor-level appointments to vice-chancellor posts involve a competitive evaluation process, and Dr Singh's elevation to the helm of a named university institution in Rajasthan underlines the scholarly standing of MDU's faculty. The news provides a positive counterpoint to Rohtak's other governance story of the week, demonstrating the city's capacity to produce both academic talent and controversy in equal measure. [4]
🤝 Shafali Verma Leads India to Asian Games Gold, Rohtak Celebrates
Rohtak marked the achievement of one of its most celebrated daughters after India's women's cricket team secured the gold medal at the Asian Games held in Aichi-Nagoya, defeating Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the final. Shafali Verma, who hails from Rohtak's Ghanipura neighbourhood, played a central role in the tournament, scoring her maiden century in white-ball cricket during the semifinals — a breakthrough that lifted her to fourth place in the ICC Women's T20 International batting rankings. The gold medal is India's second successive Asian Games title in women's cricket, following the team's triumph at the 2023 Hangzhou Games, marking a sustained period of excellence for the national side at the premier multi-disciplinary Asian tournament. In Rohtak, Shafali's father Sanjeev Verma spoke to journalists following the final, expressing profound pride at his daughter's contribution and saying the victory was a source of joy for the entire country. The Aichi-Nagoya gold adds to a remarkable run of honours for Shafali, which already includes the Women's T20 World Cup title from November 2025. Each major Shafali milestone draws Rohtak together in collective celebration, with the city's identity now inseparably intertwined with her rise on the world stage. The Asian Games performance, achieved at the most prestigious level of multi-sport competition in Asia, stands as one of the defining chapters in the young cricketer's rapidly growing legacy. [9]
Sources: [2] ThePrint · [4] The Tribune · [9] The Times of India