Guwahati: Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University in Agra, one of the oldest varsities in the nation has now been thrust into the limelight for all the wrong reasons. As many as 2,823 teachers employed by the Uttar Pradesh Government, it has come to light, have secured their jobs using fake degrees issued by the University.
These teachers using fake degrees were employed by the UP Government as far back as 2004-05, and it has now been reported that the Government has decided to recover the salaries paid to these teachers -- to the tune of almost Rs. 900 crores.
A senior staffer at the Agra University told media that Renuka Kumar, the Additional Principal Secretary in the UP Basic Education Department has ordered FIRs to be filed against these 'fake' teachers by July 3 next. She has also directed officials to recover salaries paid to these teachers.
This situation came to light after an inquiry carried out by the ATS, which revealed this to be a massive scam. Now, block development officers (BDOs) of all concerned blocks were instructed to recover the salaries paid out to these teachers to date. However, the delay by the BDOs in recovering the amount has caused the issuing of this latest order by the UP Basic Education Department.
Reports have stated that while 930 assistant teachers have been terminated from services, action is pending against 450 others. Every single teacher who secured his/her job by submitting fake certificates is liable to pay the UP Government Rs. 60 lakh, officials believe.
Agra alone accounts for 249 of these teachers, 24 of whom have been fired and FIRs filed against them.
Meanwhile, several of these teachers under the scanner have sent applications to the Agra varsity, however, most degrees probed by the SIT have been found to be fake, a staffer revealed.