HC orders UGC probe into PhD forgery

The High Court Division on Tuesday asked the University Grants Commission chairman to investigate in three months whether universities were providing PhD or equivalent degrees to researchers following due process.

The bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader also asked the commission chairman to submit a report explaining how and what procedures were being followed in providing the PhD or equivalent degrees.

The commission chairman was also asked to explain in four weeks why it would not be directed to prevent copying PhD theses by appointing ICT experts for scrutiny of thesis proposals before final recommendations.

The bench in a ruling also asked the government and commission to explain why they would not be directed to stop forgery in obtaining PhD or equivalent degree and why they would not be directed to take action against those involved in the forgery.

Education secretary, commission chairman and Dhaka University vice-chancellor were asked to reply to the ruling.

The court termed the forgery in PhD or equivalent degrees alarming and commercialisation of education.

Its expressed concern as researchers opted illegal method to obtain higher degrees.

It said that universities were selling PhD to researchers.

The court issued the ruling after hearing a public interest litigation writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Moniruzzaman.

The petitioner submitted a newspaper report carried by a Bangla daily on January 21 under caption ‘98 per cent fake in DU teachers’ PhD theses.’

The petitioner mentioned that the Dhaka University on January 28 relieved professor and former assistant proctor Abul Kalam Lutful Kabir from academic activities on charge of obtaining PhD through a thesis that copied 98 per cent of another thesis.  

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net