Teacher-cheaters show the way to a scam

At least 16 lecturers from colleges affiliated to Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) seem to be more interested in “cheating” than “teaching”.

In a blatant violation of University Act provisions, these lecturers have enrolled themselves for “regular” MTech courses in Basaveshwar College of Engineering, Bagalkot. But none of these lecturers are residents of Bagalkot.

The relevant University Act provisions state that varsity lecturers should either go on leave for attending regular classes or restrict their educational pursuits to correspondence courses.

According to records available with DNA, all these 16 lecturers have managed to obtain full attendance from the Bagalkot college despite being at work during the period.

According to higher education department officials, there is something fishy about the entire affair. The department has already set up a committee to probe the incident.

“We are waiting for the report and after that we will take necessary action against everyone involved: from the lecturers to the principal of the ‘aided’ college,” UB Ulavi, under secretary, department of higher education (university), said. Ulavi wondered how these lectures managed to obtain full attendance simultaneously at work and in college.

All these 16 lecturer-students have recently appeared for their second semester MTech examinations and are waiting for the results.

According to rules, a postgraduate student needs to have 75% attendance to be eligible to appear for examinations.

Sources from the Bagalkot college said the 16 lecturers had managed to gain a backdoor entry to MTech courses by paying a huge fee. The package deal included the issue of attendance, they added.

Marithibbe Gowda, who recently raised the issue in the Legislative Council, said, “Most of the 50 engineering colleges that run PG courses in the state are committing this fraud. If the lecturers are keen on studying, they can go on leave or join a correspondence course.”

Those joining regular MTech courses even as they are working pay nearly Rs1 lakh as annual fee, as against the prescribed Rs60,000. The extra amount takes care of their attendance, Gowda added.

Why the double acting
A major reason for the demand for MTech courses among lecturers is a rule framed by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), that makes it mandatory for colleges over five years’ old to recruit only those with an MTech degree.

Dr HP Kincha, Vice-Chancellor, VTU said, “I got to know about the issue only after it came up during the session. We immediately formed a committee which has already visited the college. After the report is submitted, we will discuss the issue with the Senate and decide on the follow-up action.”

Roll call of infamy
Among the 16 lecturers who have enrolled for MTech courses in Basaveshwar College of Engineering are:

Jayaprakash Wilfred Pinto (Dr MVSIT, Mangalore)

Anil and Ashok (both from Bijapur Polytechnic College)

Murulidhar (Gadag Polytechnic College)

Dinesh Jogi (Sunkadakatte Polytechnic, Mangalore)

Gurudutt and Shivaraj (Sridevi Institute of Technology, Mangalore)

Abdullah (Anjuman Engineering College, Bhatkal)

Virupakshappa (Mudalakatte Institute of Technology, Kundapur)

Uma H (STJ Institute of Technology, Ranebennur)

Prof KG Chandrashekara, principal, Rajeev Institute of Technology, had sought information on this issue from the Basaveshwar College of Engineering, Bagalkot through an RTI application. “I complained to the RTI commissioner when I did not get any reply. After this, I got a legal notice threatening me with a defamation suit,” Prof Chandrashekara said.