NLIU probe panel finds mark sheets of many students forged

BHOPAL: At least 200 students of the National Law Institute University (NLIU) , Bhopal, are suspected to have fraudulently obtained their degrees with the help of some staff members of the institute over the years, a probe report by a retired high court judge has revealed.

NLUI is recognised as one of the top law colleges of central India. The judicial probe was initiated last year following allegations that degrees were being sold for lakhs of rupees in NLIU, in 2016. According to university officials familiar with the matter, the malpractices took place between 1999 and 2016. Many students have got jobs on the basis of their degrees, which, according to the report, were allegedly obtained fraudulently.

The probe report also says that 12 staff members, including a few professors of NLIU, were involved in these malpractices. The one-member inquiry comthe

THE PROBE REPORT SAYS 12 STAFF MEMBERS, INCLUDING A FEW PROFESSORS OF THE UNIVERSITY, WERE INVOLVED IN THESE MALPRACTICES

mittee headed by justice (retd) Abhay Gohil submitted the report to the director of the institute last month, said institute officials. It conducted the inquiry during June-December 2018.

Of the 200 students, 80 were allegedly involved in a criminal conspiracy to get their mark sheets as“successful candidates” although they failed in the final exams, the probe report said.

The report that recommends criminal action against the guilty will be tabled in the meeting of NLIU executive council on January 19, university officials familiar with the matter said.

“The difference of marks between the marks mentioned in tabulation sheet and the same in the mark sheets was noticed during the inquiry. Professors concerned should have flagged the matter but they supported the students and staff members [sic],” said the report

“The report will be made public only in the meeting so I can’t comment on the same right now. This is true that I found certain malpractices and criminal conspiracy,” said Gohil.

During the inquiry, he handed over the list of students to NLIU registrar Giribala Singh in October last year to give them a chance to present their side. “Most students denied the allegations and said they didn’t know anything. They said the institute had issued degrees and they accepted it. It’s obvious that no one accepts his/her crime so easily. Thus I have recommended a criminal action,” he said.

Requesting anonymity, a student said: “We presented our views in front of the probe committee and hope that justice will be done to us.”