Despite UGC norms, the business of awarding fake PhDs flourishes

UNMESH GUJARATHI
Sprouts Brand Story

Not only in Maharashtra but all over India, universities and institutes offering bogus doctorates are active. Crores of rupees are earned through such deals. But due to the underhand deal between the UGC and heads of these educational institutes, no offence is registered against those distributing bogus doctorates.

Sprouts exposed the program organised in Raj Bhavan to distribute the fake PhDs. But neither FIR was registered, nor inquiry was conducted against the corrupt officer Ulhas Munagekar, camping in Raj Bhavan illegally since long, Arvind Deshmukh, who organised the illegal distribution of PhDs and Manilal Shimpi.

In India a recognition of UGC is required before a PhD is awarded. Such approval is given to the universities and not to the NGOs. As per the UGC act, a permission of UGC is required before the PhD is awarded to any foreign student. Or the student has to tie up with the UGC recognised college. However, in violation of all these rules, heads of educational institutes and their agents run a flourishing business of awarding fake PhD by collecting Rs. one lakh to Rs. 1.50 lakh.

Some people also buy PhDs from countries like Singapore and Thailand. So called spiritual guru Shri Shri Ravishankar also could not avoid the temptation of buying a fake PhD. Sprouts had unearthed this matter earlier. Similarly the motivational Guru Vivek Bindra too obtained the fake honorary PhD from the Open International University for Complementary Medicines ( Colombo). Sneh Desai also did the same thing.

A spiritual Guru from Raigad district (Maharashtra) was also cheated with a fake PhD. The UGC on its website has disclosed the names of 22 universities involved in awarding fake PhDs. Despite this the business of awarding fake PhDs continues in thousands of institutes.

Only university departments, institutions and colleges recognised by the UGC can execute research programs leading to PhD degree. The name of degree is Doctor of Philosophy and not Doctorate degree

Some of the bogus universities involved in awarding fake PhDs are: The Open International university of complementary medicine, Sri Lanka, University of America Hawaii and Inox International University, Commonwealth Vocational University, Tonga, University of South, America, The American University, USA, Zorashtriyan University, Sorbonne University, France, Mahatma Gandhi Global peace Foundation (NGO) and Empower Social and Education Trust (NGO).