Crackdown on fake PhD, MPhil certificates: 200 guest faculty resign across Karnataka
Bengaluru: At least 200 guest faculty members working in government degree colleges across state have reportedly resigned amid a probe into alleged submission of fake PhD and MPhil certificates, Deccan herald reported on Friday.
According to Higher Education Department sources said that the development comes after the department took action to verify the authenticity of the PhD and MPhil certificates submitted by the candidates while joining the job.
The move comes after complaints were filed alleging that some faculty members had submitted forged doctoral and MPhil certificates. A few of the complaints were also lodged with the Lokayukta, prompting further scrutiny.
“With the fear of getting caught, some guest faculty members have submitted their resignations,” a department source said. Most of the resignations are reported from districts in North Karnataka.
Meanwhile, the sources confirmed that even the Lokayukta has sought a report from the department on documents submitted by a few faculty members.
Officials said some candidates allegedly used counterfeit PhD certificates to bypass the mandatory National Eligibility Test (NET) or Karnataka State Eligibility Test (KSET) qualification required under University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations.
“If the candidates have submitted a PhD certificate from a state-run university, there are no issues. But the problem is, some candidates have submitted PhD or MPhil from universities outside Karnataka, which is suspicious,” the official said.
Department commissioner Manjushree N reportedly said, “We will soon issue a comprehensive SOP detailing the procedures for document verification and scrutiny.”
In a similar case in 2017, the Karnataka Examinations Authority barred 40 candidates from assistant professor interviews after detecting fake PhD certificates, reportedly issued by universities in neighbouring states.
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Min. Priyank Kharge to expresses concern over implementation of VB-G Ram G
Bengaluru: Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Priyank Kharge has expressed concern over the uncertainty surrounding the implementation of the proposed VB-G Ram G scheme, stating that the MNREGA programme, which has been a lifeline for rural India for nearly two decades, appears to be facing an uncertain future.
Speaking to media, Kharge said that as March 31 draws to a close, there is no clarity on the rollout of the new scheme from April 1. He pointed out that the central government has not yet issued the necessary guidelines for implementing the scheme for rural workers and villages.
He criticised the Centre for its lack of preparedness, stating that there is no clarity on fund allocation, no final parameters for classifying gram panchayats, and key processes such as social audits have not been defined.
Kharge said the situation comes at a critical time, as summer marks a peak period for rural employment demand, when many people depend heavily on wage employment for their livelihood.
He added that reports have emerged of delays in approvals and families not receiving work despite demand.
He further alleged that the Centre’s move to shift from a statutory employment guarantee to a rule-based allocation system is already showing negative consequences.
Kharge also raised concerns over provisions such as a mandatory 60-day halt during agricultural seasons, which he said would further limit employment opportunities for rural workers.
The BJP-led central government had claimed that the new scheme would transform rural India, but in reality it is turning out to be detrimental to people’s livelihoods, he said.
“The crisis in rural India due to the stalling of MNREGA is beginning to unfold. Given the Centre’s past record in handling such situations, there is growing concern over the impact on rural livelihoods,” Kharge said.
