The lecturers in Government colleges of Haryana who pursued PhD by taking study leave with pay during previous the Congress rule has come under the scanner of current Manohar lal Khattar Government.
The state Higher Education Department has sought information from all government colleges on lecturers who pursed PhD by taking study leave with pay from January 1, 2006 to March 31, 2014. Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had led the Congress Government in Haryana from March 2005 to October 2014.
In a recent communiqué to the principals of 71government colleges of Haryana, Director, Higher Education Department has directed them to submit details of those lecturers who pursued PhD by taking two years study leave with pay.
The Department has stated that photographs of the obtained PhD degrees by such lecturers should be submitted. The Principals have been asked to ensure that the PhD degrees are issued from the same Universities and regarding the same thesis regarding which such lecturers had sought permission from the Higher Education Department.
Besides, the photograph of permission letter issued by the Department should also be submitted, said the communiqué.
The Higher Education Department has further sought details of period from which the lecturers were given study leave and date of their joining the duty after the research work.
Sources maintained that while such communiqué was sent to all colleges earlier also, a large number of college authorities have failed to submit the details to the Higher Education Department. However, the Department might initiate stern action against those who fail to submit the information sought within the given deadline.
Such details have been sought after the Department received complaints of corrupt practices by lecturers who took study leave with pay in the name of pursuing PhD course. It has been alleged that several lecturers did not pursued research work during their study leave and rejoined their duty after taking a long break, sources maintained.
Notably, college lecturers can obtain study leave with pay for minimum two years for the PhD course. The leave period is extendable by one year on a firm ground.
Also, the lecturers have to submit their thesis report/ PhD degree with their college concerned after completing the research work.