JNTU-Hyderabad Launches Probe into Fake Ph.D Scam

Recently, there were some allegations on JNTU-Hyderabad that some of the faculty members have produced fake Ph.D certificates to join as professors in private engineering colleges affiliated to JNTU-Hyderabad. Taking the issue into consideration, the administration of the varsity has initiated a probe.

According to sources, the state government had received complaints against 34 faculty members in 20 private engineering colleges who produced fake Ph.D certificates either for promotion as a professor or to join as a professor.

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After conducting a preliminary probe into the issue, the varsity observed that some Ph.Ds was completed within two years or 1 ½ years. As per norms, the minimum stipulated time applicable to complete Ph.D is three years. The officials further observed that some of the candidates who produced fake Ph.D certificates did not submit a thesis, while some other submitted thesis without the signature of the guide. Therefore, the Ph.Ds of these candidates will be invalid, as they did not meet the stipulated norms of UGC.

Apart from the Ph.D certificates of 34 faculty members, the varsity is also suspecting Ph.Ds of another 16 candidates to be fake. A preliminary inquiry is underway, and necessary action will be taken by the authorities soon.

Also Read: Ph.D Admission Process of Kakatiya University Turns Chaotic

In October 2017, the varsity had directed all the affiliated professional colleges to submit the details of faculty members who possess Ph.D. Responding to the order of the varsity, over 1,700 faculty members have disclosed their details.

Vice Chancellor of JNTU-Hyderabad, Professor Venugopal Reddy revealed that the varsity would issue notices to the affiliated colleges to check the genuineness of the Ph.D certificates. He further mentioned that the candidates pursuing Ph.D in regular mode are not allowed to work as faculty.