Form special team to probe fake degree racket: HC

The team will examine all the cases of forged degrees and also conduct an enquiry about persons obtaining employment with the state government or any other benefits on the basis of such fake certificates. The petitioners,who include the principal of the college,had also sought a CBI enquiry into the racket where fake degrees were issued.

The petitioners had alleged that one Chitra Salunkhe had obtained a fake Bachelor of Arts degree of a university in Andhra Pradesh which she used to get admission into the LL B course at Mumbai University. Following her obtaining the degree in law she took up the job of a lecturer at Siddharth College.

The High Court had asked the Mumbai University to take action under the law in her case. Petitioner Ashok Inamdar,Principal of Siddharth Law College,had cited the Andhra Pradesh education secretary’s communication which confirmed that no certificate was ever issued to Salunkhe by Kakatia University in Warangal.

Furthermore,inquiry by the Mumbai University established that she had not passed her BA. The inquiry officer,however,also concluded that “she did not play any fraud”.

The High Court has now asked the university to give a hearing to her,and take action accordingly.

A criminal case too has been filed in this regard,and investigation is under way.