After HC rap, MDU acts against professor with invalid PhD degree

A faculty member at the Department of Physical Education of Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) in Rohtak was promoted to the post of professor on the basis of an invalid PhD degree.

Kultaj Singh continued to serve as professor for over 12 years, supervised PhD courses of numerous research scholars, and was even made the head of the department within that period as no effective action was taken following repeated complaints in this regard.

However, the MDU authorities swung into action after the Punjab and Haryana High Court categorically told them to comply with the directions of the High Court in CWP No.12869 of 2013 in light of the order passed by the Supreme Court in SLP No. 19617 of 2013 as well as Civil Appeal No.s 9694/24 with 9695/24 dated February 13, 2025, by April 5, 2025, positively.

The High Court passed the said order on April 3, following which the university authorities called a meeting of the MDU Executive Council on the very next day (April 4) and declared Kultaj's degree invalid.

The university administration also wrote a letter to him, maintaining that the degree conferred upon him by CMJ University, Meghalaya, could not be considered valid, and hence, his promotion to the post of professor, along with other benefits granted to him with effect from December 5, 2012, had been withdrawn.

The matter was taken up for hearing on Saturday, when Punjab and Haryana High Court Judge Harkesh Manuja disposed of the matter.

"Justice has prevailed," said Prof Bhagat Singh, who was the whistle-blower in the case and had filed the complaint with the High Court.