College teachers getting PhD degree from blacklisted varsity
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 18 2022: Even though the Meghalaya government had blacklisted CMJ University in Meghalaya in 2013 and announced withdrawal of PhD degree issued by the university, several government-aided college teachers and higher secondary lecturers of Manipur are still producing PhD degree certificates issued by the blacklisted university in a bid to fulfil the UGC guidelines, get promotion and enjoy the pay increment.

With the number of teachers furnishing PhD degree certificates from the blacklisted university rising, many are questioning if the higher education department of Manipur is allowing certificates from a blacklisted university for its employees.

A report in this regard was published in this daily earlier.

CMJ University, the first private university in Shillong, created a record of sort by awarding PhD degrees to 434 candidates in the 2012-13 academic session, and enrolled 490 students for the PhD programme for the 2012-2013 session, even though only 10 of its faculty members have doctorates.

Each student desiring to pursue a PhD programme was asked to pay Rs 1.27 lakh.

The Meghalaya government gave ex-post facto approval for the dissolution of CMJ University following a Supreme Court directive to take appropriate action in this regard.

In 2015, a charge-sheet was filed against 11 officials of the now dissolved CMJ University in Meghalaya including the chancellor for their alleged involvement in fraud, forgery and selling fake degree certificates to students.

Sources said that the university made arrangements for those who want PhD degree without actually undergoing the course, by using registration numbers of students, who dropped out before completing the course.

Consequent to the scam, the commissioner of higher and technical education, Manipur issued an order on May 6, 2013 instructing college teachers, who got PhD degree from CMJ University to submit details of their degree by May 31 of the same year.

The order also advised college principals, teaching faculties and students not to get enrolled in the university in order to avoid future controversy.

In spite of this, several teaching faculties of government aided colleges and higher secondary schools are producing PhD degree certificates issued by the university without taking study leave and obtaining NOC for pursuing PhD degree course.

So far, the government seems to be turning a blind eye on the matter as no action has been taken up in this regard till date even though the higher and technical education department issued an order on July 14, 2021 instructing colleges to submit a list of teach ers having PhD, MPhil certificates from CMJ University.

Such practice not only amounts to forgery and fraud, it also discourages students or academics, who are pursuing PhD Degree through proper processes and channel.

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