STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Several college teachers in Assamwill bedeprived from promotion in their services and salary increment if their PhD degrees are found fake.
"As per the new rules and regulation framed by the University Grants Commission (UGC), research is no longer compulsory for college teachers to become eligible for promotion and salary increment. The Centre is doing away with the mandatory criteria of research to enable college faculties to focus more on teaching and other student-centric activities. The government will now consider only those college teachers for promotion and salary hike who have PhD. The Union Human Resource Development ministry has already approved the UGC's new rules," a source in the State Education department told The Sentinel.
Going by the new rules, fates of as many as 137 college teachers in the State are now hanging in the balance as they allegedly possess fake PhD degrees. The Directorate of Higher Education recently issued show-cause notices to these teachers and asked them to send their replies at the earliest.
The letter (show-cause notice) clearly spells it out that – "You have acquired jobs with misleading/fake documents." The letter says that such teachers with fake PhD degrees draw their salaries depriving genuine and meritorious candidates. "Why disciplinary action should not be taken against you as per Assam Services (Disciplinary and Appeal) Rules, 1964?"
There are private universities without recognition and fake universities that offer PhD degrees without the candidates having to submit any research works (papers). Such universities offer doctorate degrees to candidates within a year by charging high amount of money.
Sources said that a large number of teachers, whose posts were regularized recently, had obtained PhD degrees from institutions like Magadh University and Vinayak University, which are doubtful and had to be verified.
"As per the new UGC rules if PhD degrees of 137 college teachers are found fake or dubious, they will have to face punitive actions such as no annual increment in salaries and promotion in their services," the source said.
On other hand, the State Higher Education is also investigating nearly 35 college principals following complaints that they had allegedly submitted fake PhD certificates or taken doctorate degrees from dubious universities from outside the State.