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The Unending Saga of Fake PhDs
For every other story of the fraudulent getting recognition in the groves of academe lies the rare one of genuine and exceptional research being wantonly disregarded.
One such prominent tale is that of Dr MA Padmanabha Rao, which was brought to the notice of the wider world by the intrepid science and technology writer Seema Singh some time ago, and which has now become a major topic of debate in interested circles.
After teaching nuclear medicine at aiims in New Delhi, Dr Rao joined the Defence Laboratory in Jodhpur in 1983, where he did experimental work in nuclear physics and detected a new phenomenon in light emission from X-ray sources. However, before he could publish his work, he attained his retirement age. As Seema recounted, “Rao was neither given an extension nor due recognition in promotion; in fact, he was denied promotion.”
However, the indefatigable researcher in Dr Rao refused to give up and he continued interpreting the data and kept sending his work to various journals. Many rejections came; finally he published his work in the Brazilian Journal of Physics. Dr Rao has termed his observation of the new light phenomenon as Bharat Radiation, but nobody in Bharat seems to care for it.
Some noted academics underscored how Dr Rao had experimentally observed radiation for the first time, but they have been intrigued why this work was not published in more reputed journals, and also get him official recognition. The absence of a godfather can often negate the best of research. As the question has been posed, can any Indian institution give an honorary title of National Professor or Emeritus Scientist to Dr Rao so that when he sends his research paper to journals for publication, he is treated with greater consideration?
From APJ Abdul Kalam down, Dr Rao has tried to appraise his discovery on detection of light emission from radioisotopes. According to him, work goes unrewarded even when the discoveries are published in a peer-reviewed journal.
In marked contrast, the Nagpur University was infamously embroiled in a controversy after PB Dhumane was appointed supervisor for PhD students even after the higher education department stopped his salary for allegedly possessing a fake doctoral degree from the Meghalaya-based fly-by-night Chandra Mohan Jha University (CMJU).
Following media reports, the Maharashtra government issued a circular directing all non-agriculture universities to immediately cancel all appointments, promotions and increments made on the basis of degrees obtained from CMJU.
CMJU sold thousands of fake degrees, including 4,000 PhDs, for amounts ranging from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. The Nagpur University not only appointed Dhumane supervisor but also invited him for supervision.
In the case of fake PhDs granted by the Ranchi University in the 1990s, the CBI is still probing the case. The university has not instituted an inquiry or filed an fir in the matter yet.
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Most officers Tehelka contacted for their version were evasive in their response, much like the dean of the FRI.
Sudhanshu Gupta, an IFS officer from the Tamil Nadu cadre of the 1989 batch, was awarded his PhD in June 2004. RTI revealed that the university confirmed his admission on 4 January 1999, but he was registered on 1 September 1998, four months before the university’s confirmation. He paid the fees on 11 January 1999. As per the FRI rules, the registration of the PhD will be applicable from the date the fee is paid.
When Gupta was contacted for his version on the allegations of spurious study for his degree, he said he could not comment on the issue because he is “no longer with the FRI” and directed Tehelka to contact the FRI for clarification. He disconnected the phone soon afterwards.
Vivek Saxena, a 1991 batch IFS officer of the Haryana cadre, is currently an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) with the environment minister of Haryana, Captain Abhimanyu. He has also served as an OSD in the MoEF during the UPA regime under Jayanthi Natarajan and Veerappa Moily.
“I am busy in a conference. Please call me later,” Saxena told Tehelka. He disconnected the phone after listening to the RTI revelations. All attempts to contact him after that were futile as his phone was not reachable.
Of the officers with possibly fake phds from the FRI, Suhas Kumar, a 1980 batch IFS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, was vehement in denying any hokey-pokey in his degree.
“All allegations against me are false. I have all the documents with me and I have not done any violation. I have sent all the documents required to the university. If the university is saying that they don’t have any documents, it’s their fault. I have all the correspondence letters with me,” Kumar told TEHELKA. “If you people defame me, I will take you to some other level. You don’t know what kind of a person I am.”
When Tehelka sent him a mail asking why he was registered with the university long before paying the fees, he replied, “It can be best answered by the FRI University.” He sent many documents to support his claim that his degree is not fake. But there was a discrepancy in the date of one of the documents — letter No. 2462/7A-275/2008-FRIu. The letter he sent was dated 14 November 2008, but the copy of the same letter that had been received through RTI was dated 12 November 2008.
Kumar’s supervisor for his degree was Yogesh Dubey, who was also the guide for G Krishnamurthy, another IFS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre who got into service in 1984.
When Dubey was asked how officers who received PhD under his supervision managed to do their fieldwork without getting formal study leave, he said that he did not know whether the said IFS officers had taken the study leave or not. He said he was just a guide, supervising them. “Only the FRI University can say about their study leave (status),” he said.
Dubey then said that Kumar was on study leave for two years, before saying he was not sure though.
NS Bisht has been a PhD supervisor for as many as four different IFS officers: Gera, RBS Rawat, S Singsit and DN Singh. Bisht said that he did not know anything about the study leaves his wards might or might not have taken and suggested that the registrar of the FRI, AK Tripathi, is more likely to know the answer.
When asked about the back dating of admission, Bisht said that it is not possible. “PhD admissions are done twice in a year and no one can take admission on the day he applied for PhD ,” he said.
Bisht also said that only the controlling officer — that is, the concerned department’s head — is competent to give nocs for candidates seeking to do PhD while in service. And then he disconnected the phone.
There is palpable fear among the officers, too, regarding the practice of offering pre-cooked PhD by the premier institute. Tehelka contacted an official of the Forestry Scientists Association (FOSA), Ashok Kumar, who was keen to distance himself from the findings of the RTI activist Hilaluddin, a former member of FOSA.
“I resigned from the post of secretary a few days ago. Now, a new secretary will be appointed after an election, which will be held on 20 February. Only he can comment on the issue,” Ashok Kumar said. “I have come to south India for some scientific work and want to concentrate on that.”
Asked if he had any comments to offer on Hilaluddin’s RTI findings, Kumar said, “I do not want to comment on that.”
good work. Happy to read it.
Dear Tehelka Team, Its really unfortunate and sad that you were not able to differentiate between right and wrong. Dr. Suhas kumar of his own proactively provided all his paper and documents to Tehelka Team and in turn they netted him as a fake PHD. he had all the necessary permission from the State department to undertake this study and took two years study leave to be able to do the required Field work for this study. As his guide i take great pride in the work that Dr. Suhas Kuamr has done. No body in that artilce has responded except for Dr. Suhas kumar. he is known for his high values and moral standards. God will definitely do justice.
Vishwas Sawarkar
464 Rasta Peth
Pune 411011 dated 04 February 2015
To,
The Editor, Tehelka,
Sir,
This has a reference to the article published titled ‘Tehelka Investigation: How Forest Officers Net Their Ph.Ds.’ in your esteemed publication of 2015-02-07, Issue 6, Volume 12 under the byline of Jamshed Khan and Sushant Pathak. I would like to draw your kind attention to the content written about Dr. Suhas Kumar, a 1980 batch Indian Forest Service officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre accusing him of having ‘possibly’ obtained a fake Ph.D. degree from the Forest Research Institute (FRI) University, Dehradun. The article admits that Dr. Suhas Kumar had provided several documents to prove the contrary. These have been placed by Dr. Suhas Kumar on his Facebook account and these prove that the allegations are malicious and baseless. It is a very serious canard, a blatant attempt at tarnishing the image of this upright officer. The article goes on further about an enquiry having been made with the Supervisor for Shri Suhas Kumar’s Ph.D. programme Dr. Yogesh Dubey about how the officer undertook the study without having gone on a study leave which is mandatory—in reply Dr. Dubey is quoted as having said that Dr. Suhas Kumar was on a two year study leave but that he was not sure. I have to state that Dr. Dubey was not Shri Suhas Kumar’s controlling officer. The question ought to have been posed in the right quarters, but more interesting intentions of the reporters follow. I am referring to contents that are relevant to the issue of the Ph.D. degree awarded by the FRI University to Dr. Suhas Kumar.
The documents furnished by Dr. Suhas Kumar to your reporters provide clear evidence that he was on a duly sanctioned two year study leave, and that all procedures have been followed. Let me give the benefit of doubt to the reporters of having been ignorant of the facts about the study leave at the time they posed such questions to Dr. Dubey. However later they got the documents and were wise to the facts. Even after this development they chose to write about their interaction with Dr. Dubey mischievously and deliberately thereby hoping to add an element of doubt in the minds of the readers. They do not admit anywhere that they did have the facts as provided by Dr. Suhas Kumar—only that ‘he sent many documents to support his claim that his degree is not fake’. Defeated in their attempts at maligning the reputation of Dr. Suhas Kumar they pathetically groped at straws—the article mentions a letter issued by the University—letter No. 2462/TA-275/2008 FRIu dated 14-11-2008 which was among the documents furnished by Dr. Suhas Kumar to your reporters. The article states that the copy of the very same letter they had obtained under the RTI application mentions the date as 12-11-2008. However if it is true, how does it prove and on what grounds the allegation that the degree is fake? There are some questions that surely are in the domain of the University to answer. Placing the onus of replies for these on Dr. Suhas Kumar is grossly unjustified. There is no proof at all that there is anything wrong with the degree awarded to him.
There is a whole body of evidence with the Government of MP in writing and in the field from a host of personnel of the forest department that supports Dr. Suhas Kumar’s study. I was one of the external examiners for his thesis titled ‘An assessment of ecotourism strategies and practices in tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh’. Wildlife based ecotourism is among the fastest growing industries in the larger tourism sector in the country. There are opportunities as well as some serious problems. The thesis is scientifically rigorous, factually realistic and has robust and practical recommendations. It is the best that is written about the ecotourism practices in the protected areas that I have come across in my stint of 40 years in the wildlife management sector. I recommend that you read it. I have known Dr. Suhas Kumar for the better part of three decades as a professional and as a person. He is a model for uprightness and probity, an officer to be proud of. There are many things written about the concept of Officer like Qualities (OLQ). Dr. Suhas Kumar represents all of those. It is a very sad day that there has been a malicious attempt at tarnishing the image of this officer for all the wrong reasons. It brings nothing but discredit to your esteemed publication. To redeem this canard a duly published unqualified apology is in order. I am confident that you are on the side of justice and justice will be done.
I retired as the Director of the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun and was a member of the Indian Forest Service, Maharashtra cadre.
Regards,
Yours faithfully
Vishwas Sawarkar
Dear Sir,
I have read story carefully and I did not find anywhere that the authors have raised any issue on the credibility of the quality of research being done by Dr Suhas Kumar and even have used words like fake or fraudulent about his degree. What is important from the journalism angle i.e. version of both parties (Dr Kumar and documents with Tehelka) has been given. I don’t foresee anywhere in the article that Dr Kumar has done Ph. D. without obtaining Study Leave and/ or NoC but I could make very clearly about the documents furnished by Dr Kumar in his support without alleging the credibility of such papers. As to my poor understanding of journalism, a journalist is suppose to write view of both parties in the article and this ethics have been followed by the authors. As far as violations committed are concerned, we all know that a person on Study Leave has to be in university/institute campus during leave tenure as per DoPT norms and there is no document to prove presence of study leave takers in the FRI Campus and/ or its research centres. There are many others arguments which will put forth before competent court of laws during legal hearing in this case in the time ahead.
Regards
Hilaluddin
Dear Citizens of India
Below is the letter written by Shri V.B Sawarkar, former Director Wildlife Institute of India to the Editor of tehelka. He posted it on their site but it was not published,:Please go through it.
Vishwas Sawarkar
464 Rasta Peth
Pune 411011 dated 04 February 2015
To,
The Editor, Tehelka,
Sir,
This has a reference to the article published titled ‘Tehelka Investigation: How Forest Officers Net Their Ph.Ds.’ in your esteemed publication of 2015-02-07, Issue 6, Volume 12 under the byline of Jamshed Khan and Sushant Pathak. I would like to draw your kind attention to the content written about Dr. Suhas Kumar, a 1980 batch Indian Forest Service officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre accusing him of having ‘possibly’ obtained a fake Ph.D. degree from the Forest Research Institute (FRI) University, Dehradun. The article admits that Dr. Suhas Kumar had provided several documents to prove the contrary. These have been placed by Dr. Suhas Kumar on his Facebook account and these prove that the allegations are malicious and baseless. It is a very serious canard, a blatant attempt at tarnishing the image of this upright officer. The article goes on further about an enquiry having been made with the Supervisor for Shri Suhas Kumar’s Ph.D. programme Dr. Yogesh Dubey about how the officer undertook the study without having gone on a study leave which is mandatory—in reply Dr. Dubey is quoted as having said that Dr. Suhas Kumar was on a two year study leave but that he was not sure. I have to state that Dr. Dubey was not Shri Suhas Kumar’s controlling officer. The question ought to have been posed in the right quarters, but more interesting intentions of the reporters follow. I am referring to contents that are relevant to the issue of the Ph.D. degree awarded by the FRI University to Dr. Suhas Kumar.
The documents furnished by Dr. Suhas Kumar to your reporters provide clear evidence that he was on a duly sanctioned two year study leave, and that all procedures have been followed. Let me give the benefit of doubt to the reporters of having been ignorant of the facts about the study leave at the time they posed such questions to Dr. Dubey. However later they got the documents and were wise to the facts. Even after this development they chose to write about their interaction with Dr. Dubey mischievously and deliberately thereby hoping to add an element of doubt in the minds of the readers. They do not admit anywhere that they did have the facts as provided by Dr. Suhas Kumar—only that ‘he sent many documents to support his claim that his degree is not fake’. Defeated in their attempts at maligning the reputation of Dr. Suhas Kumar they pathetically groped at straws—the article mentions a letter issued by the University—letter No. 2462/TA-275/2008 FRIu dated 14-11-2008 which was among the documents furnished by Dr. Suhas Kumar to your reporters. The article states that the copy of the very same letter they had obtained under the RTI application mentions the date as 12-11-2008. However if it is true, how does it prove and on what grounds the allegation that the degree is fake? There are some questions that surely are in the domain of the University to answer. Placing the onus of replies for these on Dr. Suhas Kumar is grossly unjustified. There is no proof at all that there is anything wrong with the degree awarded to him.
There is a whole body of evidence with the Government of MP in writing and in the field from a host of personnel of the forest department that supports Dr. Suhas Kumar’s study. I was one of the external examiners for his thesis titled ‘An assessment of ecotourism strategies and practices in tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh’. Wildlife based ecotourism is among the fastest growing industries in the larger tourism sector in the country. There are opportunities as well as some serious problems. The thesis is scientifically rigorous, factually realistic and has robust and practical recommendations. It is the best that is written about the ecotourism practices in the protected areas that I have come across in my stint of 40 years in the wildlife management sector. I recommend that you read it. I have known Dr. Suhas Kumar for the better part of three decades as a professional and as a person. He is a model for uprightness and probity, an officer to be proud of. There are many things written about the concept of Officer like Qualities (OLQ). Dr. Suhas Kumar represents all of those. It is a very sad day that there has been a malicious attempt at tarnishing the image of this officer for all the wrong reasons. It brings nothing but discredit to your esteemed publication. To redeem this canard a duly published unqualified apology is in order. I am confident that you are on the side of justice and justice will be done.
I retired as the Director of the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun and was a member of the Indian Forest Service, Maharashtra cadre.
Regards,
Yours faithfully
Vishwas Sawarkar
Dear journalist-friends, you failed and failed miserably to become the Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward of India! Dr. Suhas Kumar belongs to a rare breed of honest, conscientious, and no-nonsense type officers. I only wish we could have many more such officers in the country. You have actually committed the cardinal sin of journalism by maligning Dr. Suhas Kumar. I do not want to repeat whatever has already been written about the entire legitimate procedure he had adopted to pursue his study. His acquaintances might still forgive you to some extent if you live up to the finest journalistic standards and apologise to him for this so called “scoop” so ill-researched on forestry researches.
I do not know about others But I am pretty sure about SUHAS KUMAR. IT IS JUST FALSE BLAME ON HIM. YOU WILL NOT FOUND HONEST OFFICER LIKE SRI SUHAS KUMAR.
I strongly refute the comment by CAG that Officers holding GCR and DG offices were doing it “without any knowledge and experience of the initial alphabets in the field of research”. The memo advised that it would be better and definitely in “public interest” if the research field is left open for researchers. I have worked as GCR at FRI for four years and I ask TEHLKA team to go through the GCR files and see themselves the guidance regarding scientific research provided by the GCR to the scientists. The CAG statement is motivated with vested interests.
Sir,
The information furnished by ICFRE on research article published by this premier institute of this country speaks voluminous over quality of research being done here. The RTI reveals that professional posted at its headquarter have not been able to publish a single article in any peer reviewed international journal during past five years,. This fact is further corroborated by the CAG Audit para No. 21 of April 2014. How IFS have made mess of this esteemed forestry institution of the country is an open secret to the scientific community worldwide. What do you say about Dr Neeta Hooda, IFS (perhaps your spouse, if am not confused) how she guided Dr. Vivek Saxena in FRI University despite she is living in US since past so many years. It is she who has certified that the data collected by her cadre mate IFS Dr Saxena is original piece of his work and collected by himself despite he was performing his duties sincerely in MoEF, New Delhi since past 5-6 years and simeltaneously collecting data across the agro-forests of northern India (UP and Haryana). There was no co-ordination either between her and non Ph. D. co-supervisor of Dr Saxena Mr Saibal Dasgupta another IFS of MP cadre as revealed by Mr. DasGupta himself to Tehlka team telephonically.
Regards
Hilaluddin
Dear Sir
You are not in FRI since last seven years and that is why you don’t know about quality of research going in FRI/ICFRE. None of the officer posted in administration is sincere over quality of research here. Am open for debate on this issue with supported documents.
Mr R.K. Aima is also an officer who enjoyed his extension without the cadre clearance either from his parent state or MoEF for one year. As per rules he should have to be repatriated after completion of his period. Further, he was sent to foreign tour without any approval of competent authority for the work of FRI University after relieving from the charge of dean of University.
Such deputation cases abounds in ICFRE. It is strange how Dr Sudhanshu Gupta has continued after five years in ICFRE without concurrence of DoPT and its a question of million dollar how a person was paid salary when Hon’ble Minister of Environment herself has refused extension of Dr Gupta on file. ICFRE has become Pvt. Ltd. Company of IFS officer.
The points are too much interesting and valuable to extract learning points. Exclusive topic!