Punjab Medical Education and Research Minister Brahm Mohindra on Wednesday ordered vigilance inquiry to expose fake degree racket operating in the state which is issuing fake certificates and degrees of Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) in the name of Baba Farid University.
The matter of fake certificates and degrees was detected by the Punjab Board of Ayurvedic and Unani Systems of Medicine registrar when one Rajesh Kumar, resident of Bhulle Chakk Colony in Gurdaspur, visited the Board for renewal of his registration certificate bearing registration no. 10967, said an official spokesperson.
Registrar Dr Sanjeev Goyal found that the certificates of the candidate were fake as Dr Sonam Dhiman, resident of Bungal village in Pathankot district, stands registered vide the same registration number.
Spokesperson said that the matter was immediately brought to the notice of Medical Education and Research secretary Vikas Partap Singh who further discussed it with the Minister, and considering the seriousness of the matter, Minister ordered vigilance inquiry to expose fake degrees or racket.
Issuing order for vigilance inquiry, Mohindra said that there seems to be a widespread menace and the same shall be unearthed and guilty shall be brought to book who are duping the candidates and endangering the health and the lives of the innocent public.
The Minister even suspected that such elements might be the source of spread of intoxicants in the state.
Spokesperson said that the inquiries are also being conducted from Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, laxmi Narain Ayurvedic College, Amritsar, and Guru Ravidas University, since the certificates have been issued by Shri Guru Teg Bahadur Paramedical Institute, Hoshiarpur, based racket.