Barkatullah University, already facing controversy over a proposed name change, has been hit by another scandal after officials discovered that a college listed as an affiliated institution and credited with issuing degrees for nearly a decade appears never to have existed.
Inquiry Launched After Complaint
University authorities initiated an inquiry following a complaint alleging irregularities in affiliation records. When a university inspection team visited the address listed for the college, they found only agricultural fields with no sign of any campus, buildings, staff, or students.
“We visited the location shown on the affiliation documents and found nothing but farmland,” said a senior university official who spoke on condition of anonymity. “There is no college there, and there never has been.”
Degrees Issued Despite Absence
Despite the lack of a physical institution, university records show that degrees bearing the college’s name were approved and issued for the past ten years. This revelation has raised urgent questions about the university’s oversight processes, the authenticity of the certificates, and the officials responsible for endorsing them.
University Response
“We are treating this as a serious matter of academic fraud and administrative lapse,” said university PRO Shashank Shekhar. “An internal inquiry has been ordered to determine how affiliation was granted, who signed the requisite documents, and which officials authorised the issuance of degrees.”
Students and alumni listed on the dubious certificates may now face uncertainty over the validity of their qualifications. “If my degree is found to be invalid, it will upend my plans for higher study and job applications,” said one person named on a sample certificate, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
State Authorities Notified
The university has notified state higher education authorities. “We have asked the state education department to join the investigation so that any criminal responsibility can be established and those found culpable are prosecuted,” a senior official added.
The students’ union said the episode exposed structural weaknesses in affiliation verification and record-keeping. “This case shows that checks and balances meant to prevent such fraud either failed or were circumvented,” said NSUI vice-president Ravi Parmar.
Reputational Damage
The unfolding scandal compounds existing tensions at Barkatullah University, where proposals to rename the institution have already provoked public debate and political scrutiny. Administrators acknowledged that the timing of the new controversy was damaging to the university’s reputation.
“We will ensure full transparency and cooperate with all authorities,” the university officials said. “Those found responsible will be dealt with according to law and university rules.”
The inquiry team is expected to submit a detailed report soon.
