Fake quota certificates: HC directs DVAC to get details from varsities

Fake quota certificates: HC directs DVAC to get details from varsities

The Hindu Bureau  MADURAI 23.10.1024 

In the wake of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) having booked four persons who allegedly received appointments under the 20% reservation for Persons Studied in Tamil Medium (PSTM) using fake certificates from Madurai Kamaraj University, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the DVAC to get details from other universities.

‘Depute officers’

A Division Bench of Justices P. Velmurugan and B. Pugalendhi directed DVAC Madurai to depute officers to Annamalai University in Chidambaram, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University in Tirunelveli, Periyar University in Salem, and University of Madras in Chennai, and ensure that the required documents are obtained on or before October 28.

The Bench observed that only after court orders did Madurai Kamaraj University extend its cooperation, and that the investigation found that fake PSTM certificates had been issued to four candidates, who used them to get appointments in Group-I service. The court took note that the DVAC also registered a case against some officials of Madurai Kamaraj University.

The judges observed that the court had earlier directed the DVAC to verify similar PSTM certificates issued by other universities. The Investigating Officer was having doubts with regard to 22 candidates who got PSTM certificates through distance education from Annamalai University, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Periyar University and University of Madras.

The court said that due to non-cooperation of the universities in furnishing the required documents, the investigation agency was not in a position to complete the inquiry as directed by the court. This amounted to an offence, it said.

No more time

The court said it was not inclined to grant further time to the investigation agency to collect the details required for the investigation. Whoever suppresses the material particulars with an intention to shield the offenders from prosecution and punishment was liable to be prosecuted under Section 238 of BNS 2023, it said.

The court permitted the investigation agency to expand the scope of the investigation and include the offenders who are suppressing the material documents and thereby protecting the offenders. If there was any further delay from the universities, the investigation agency shall conduct a search and collect the required documents, the court said.

The investigating officer shall file a report on the progress made in the probe, the court said, and posted the matter for hearing on October 28.

The court was hearing a contempt petition filed by advocate G. Sakthi Rao of Madurai. Earlier, it directed the DVAC to investigate the irregularities in the issuance of PSTM certificates.