Jammu: In a major education fraud case, two school principals in Jammu and Kashmir have lost their positions and been demoted after investigations revealed that they had been using forged postgraduate degrees to advance their careers. According to official reports from the School Education Department, Anita Sharma, Principal of Sarna Higher Secondary School in Samba and Raman Chanyal, Principal of Machhedi Higher Secondary School in Kathua presented fake PG degrees from Magadh University to gain promotions over the years.
A thorough probe found that Magadh University did not even offer the claimed Chemistry postgraduate course during the time these teachers earned their supposed degrees back in 2003. As a result of this startling discovery, the Department has ordered Sharma and Chanyal to immediately cease duties as principals and resume teaching roles at their respective schools. Both principals had risen to lead schools on the basis of credentials that have now been exposed as fraudulent.
In Sharma's case, records show that she was able to get promoted as in-charge lecturer in 2004 using the bogus degree but her excessive reluctance to present original documents led to a suspension of her allowances for around two years till 2006. The Education Department's decree on March 5 directed the Chief Education Officers of Samba and Kathua to recall these principals from their current positions and adjust them back to teaching. This demotion serves as a warning against academic deception to illegally climb the career ladder.
