Gauhati University Professor Charged With Plagiarism, Sent On Compulsory Leave

Guwahati: Dr. Prafulla Kumar Nath, a professor who teaches Assamese in Gauhati University, has landed in trouble after he was slapped with charges of plagiarism.

According to reports, a complaint has been lodged by one Mukut Choudhary, a teacher at Dispur High School, to the university authorities back in 2018 on charges that the professor plagiarized a book titled 'Adhunik Janane' written by him.

The university authorities set up a panel to probe the authenticity of the allegations levelled against the Professor following the complaint. The probe panel subsequently sent its reports after thoroughly examining the matter.

Thereafter, the executive council held an emergency meeting on 27 December based on the report and suggested that Professor Nath be sent on compulsory leave until the matter is disposed.

Finally, the authorities of Gauhati University decided to send the professor on compulsory leave with effect from 5 January based on the recommendations of the executive council and the ethics committee.

The authorities have also decided to relieve him from all responsibilities of the department as well as examinations.

The complaint was filed at the Dispur Police Station for plagiarism and a case (No 250/18) under Sections 120(b) and 420 was registered against the university professor.

However, the professor was granted bail by Kamrup (M) chief judicial magistrate (CJM)'s court.

The professor was also accused of plagiarism of another book edited by a renowned scholar from Assam back in September.

A police complaint had been filed by a scholar named Dr. Jyotirmay Jana against the Professor where he accused him of plagiarizing his edited book.

Dr. Jana's complaint accused Dr. Prafulla Kumar Nath of being involved in piracy of intellectual property, copyright violation and plagiarism. 

The scholar alleged the professor of copying a large portion of his edited book from 'Bongal Bongalani Natak', which was edited by Dr. Jana and got published back in 2014.

It is to be noted that Dr. Jana was an associate professor at Nowgong Girls' College.

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