Question : FAKE CERTIFICATES

(a) whether instances of students getting admission in educational institutions/universities on the basis of fake caste certificates, fake mark-sheets and degrees in the country including the University of Delhi and State of Uttarakhand have come to the notice of the Government during the last three years and the current year;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise including Delhi;

(c) whether some officials of the universities have been found involved in such incidents;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) the details of action taken/proposed to be taken against the accused persons/officials in the matter;

(f) whether the Union Government has directed the University of Delhi and the State Government of Uttarakhand to inquire all the cases where admissions have been secured on the basis of the SC/ST/ OBC certificates; and

(g) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor alongwith the preventive measures being taken in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. D. PURANDESWARI)

(a) to (f): While such instances have been reported, the data about the same is not centrally maintained, since universities are created and controlled both by Central Government and State Government. Universities are autonomous entities, which have powers to lay down rules of admissions through ordinances. Similarly, universities have full powers to initiate action against the officials involved in such cases. As per information supplied by Delhi University, 31 cases of admissions secured on forged certificates/degrees and 43 cases of admissions secured on fake caste certificates were reported in the University. Complaints in the Police Station against all those 31 students who secured admission on the basis of forged certificates/degrees were registered, apart from cancelling their admission. In respect of 43 cases of admissions secured on alleged fake caste certificates, the University conducted verification of these caste certificates. As a result, 13 students submitted fresh caste certificates which were found genuine after verification, whereas 5 students withdrew their admission. The University issued “show cause notices” to 25 students and after receiving their replies, the admission of 7 students has been cancelled. The caste certificates of remaining 18 students have been sent for re-verification to the authorities concerned. A similar case of fake migration certificates was reported in Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalay, Wardha, Gujarat.

(g): Universities are autonomous bodies and competent to take necessary action in all academic and administrative matters. Government has no role to play in the day-to-day governance of Universities. However the Government has introduced the “National Academic Depository Bill, 2011” to establish an electronic depository of national database of academic qualifications has been introduced in the Lok Sabha on 5-9-2011. The depository would permit online verification and authentication of academic qualifications issued by academic institutions and thereby control incidences of fake certificates and degrees.