Academic Fraud involving promotions through tempering is a stumbling block in the growth of institution of higher learning. If such practice allows to persist, the Quality Education would be the first casualty. Instead of fence sitter, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Manoj Kumar Dhar need to rise to the occasion and set an example of transparency by handed over Prof.Meghna case to Crime Branch
JAMMU: There is no end to allegations of misappropriation, favoritism, irregularities, victimization, non adherence to UGC and varsity statutes as well as manipulation in research work for wholesale distribution of PhD besides favoring promotions to teachers on fudged data in Jammu University.
While on job to dig out truth into these allegations, the JK Global News investigative team came across an interesting case of high level favoritism where to ensure career growth along with financial benefits worth several lakh, the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of Jammu University instead of handing over the matter to Crime Branch of Jammu and Kashmir Police to probe tampering with Performance Based Appraisal System (PBAS) Performa by candidate have allegedly gang up to push promotion case of Assistant Professor, Dr. Meghna Dhar of Department of Library & Information Science.
As per documentary evidences, Dr. Meghna was appointed as Assistant Professor in JU on July 28, 2010 and her promotion for the grade of Senior Assistant Professor was due on 27 July, 2014. However, due to deficiency in Academic Performance Indicator (API) scores her case was rejected thrice by the Screening Committee of IQAC Tier-I in its meetings held between the year 2016 -2020.
Endorsing minutes of meeting of Tier-I Screening Committee which was held in IQAC office on 5/11/2020, the HoD of DoL&IS while rejecting case of Prof. Meghna for promotion due to deficiencies in API score has highlighted tempering in PBAS Performa and stressed need for investigation of matter through appropriate external agency.
Sharing details, an official of IQAC section of JU said “Despite rejection of Prof. Meghna case at Tier-I level on several occasions, a lobby of officials in JU clandestinely kept her case file alive till date knowingly that the beneficiary could able to “manage” backdated published work in near future to overcome earlier pointed deficiency of API score.
Normally, when case of promotion was rejected on ground of shortage of API score, the varsity provides an opportunity to candidate to fulfill the requirement within reasonable time. In case, if still deficiency exist then the candidate needs to apply fresh. But, the IQAC flaunts special predilections for Prof. Meghna and allow her to “manage” deficiency through manipulation which she failed to fulfill since 2014.
Reliable sources reveal that Prof. Meghana Dhar was provided PBAS Performa which she has originally submitted in 2015 and when returned it in August 2020 to IQAC, the same was found tempered at several places .
In Performa, she allegedly tempered with facts of original application and made one backdated (July 2014) paper entitled “Use of Resources and Services with special reference to College of Engineering: A Study” which she claimed was published in online Journal namely Asian Resonance. “Managing access to PBAS Performa, she added page No 20 in 2020.
Similarly, in page No 22, Prof.Meghna herself declared that the book was published in June 2010 i.e prior to her appointment as Assistant Professor in JU on July 2010. Interestingly, the word June now stands removed in re-submitted PBAS Performa in 2020 purportedly to get its benefit in API score knowingly that she already avails its benefit during her appointment in JU.
Once the PBAS Performa was submitted, the concerned (IQAC/Teaching Wing is not authorized to hand over this official document to candidate which was duly forwarded in proper channel by concerned HoD, said an official of Registrar office.
In support of her publication, the certificate of publisher Dr. Rajeev Mishra, Managing Director of the Journal (The copy is with JK Global News) was also produced by Prof. Meghna. Later, the IQAC allowed her to add this publication in PBAS Performa in September 2020. This whole exercise was executed unofficially by not following the proper channel.
“This is clear case of Academic fraud where the beneficiary in connivance with the MD of Online Journal managed publication of her research papers in the year 2020 by manipulating it in old volume of 2014 in online publication merely to cover her API score deficiency so as to manage promotion benefits since 2014” sources.
Surprisingly, Prof. Meghna Dhar remained mum for complete six years when her case for promotion was turned down by Tier-I SC which duly acknowledged that credit for a book she has authored in June 2010 can’t availed both for appointment as well as for promotion in JU.
On being contacted, Prof. Sangita Gupta, HOD, Library Science Department, JU refused to comment on the issue. But, reliable sources in JU reveal that a complaint was formally lodged by Prof. Sangita with VC-Prof. Manoj Kumar Dhar demanding investigation of this academic fraud through crime branch.
Managing promotion through fraudulent means is a crime and blot on varsity working. This Academic fraud if not handled by the incumbent VC then it will led to opening of can of worms pertaining to award of PhD and promotions in Jammu University through fudged research work and manipulations, avers an officer JU preferring anonymity.
JK Global News when contacted Prof. Meghna Dhar on Saturday at 6 pm to ascertain her viewpoint, she said “Right now I am busy in class room and not supposed to talk on it and banged the phone”