PhD during paid study leave under scanner

Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 26

Alleged irregularities committed by college teachers taking two-year study leave with pay for research with a view get PhD degree are under the scanner.

Acting on a complaint received on the CM Window, the Director of Higher Education Department yesterday shot off a communication to principals of all 57 government colleges across the state to send details of research undertaken by college teachers while on paid study leave from January 1, 2006, to March 31, 2014. The principals were given three days’ time to reply with requisite information.

The principals were asked to send attested copies of PhD degrees of teachers obtained during the two-year leave period. It was made clear that the topic of research and university should be the same for which the teacher was given permission by the department.

There had been allegations that a substantial number of college teachers availed themselves of study leave with pay for two years without undertaking any research or doing substandard research work.

Moreover, there had been allegations that the research work in some cases was done on a topic different from the one for which permission was taken from the department. Certain teachers allegedly pursued their PhD from dubious universities, for which they did not have permission from the department.

The decision of the department to compile information on teachers’ research work was apparently aimed at punishing the teachers who had allegedly indulged in malpractices and irregularities while obtaining their PhD degree, which could come in handy for promotion to the next grade.