Academic fraud is being committed in prestigious Giri Institute of Development Studies where efforts are on to promote an associate Professor, who is charged with plagiarism, to the post of Professor under Career Advancement Scheme.
The person in question is CS Verma who published four books within a span of two years, of which three are under the cloud of plagiarism. There are documents to prove that three books namely, Development of Uttar Pradesh – Challenges and Opportunities, Women Self Help Groups as Instrument of Social Change and Understanding Determinant of Women’s Health in India have chapters whose contents have been extensively Rs lifted’ from other books or reports without giving proper acknowledgment.
The conclusion of the first chapter of the book “Development of Uttar Pradesh — Challenges and Opportunities” is a straight lift from the Observations and Suggestions of the chapter on State Five Year Plans of UP of the book “UP Economy Monitor (2012-13)” authored by TN Dhar, RN Kacker and KN Trivedi and published by Indian Institute of Public Administration, UP Branch.
TN Dhar has lodged a written complaint with the Director, GIDS about plagiarism of book by Verma. “This is a fit case for criminal case. But I did not go for criminal case because it would have brought a bad name to the Institute. The director had promised to take administrative action but now if the same fellow is being promoted it is really shameful,” Dhar told The Pioneer.
He said that author has written in introduction that I have given him consent to use information from my book, this is wrong. I have never spoken to Verma. “Moreover, while writing books one can take figures and fact but Verma has copied paragraphs after paragraphs without acknowledging it. This is serious case of plagiarism,” he said.
Former Director GIDS Prof BK Joshi said that plagiarism in academics is a serious matter. There are different grades of plagiarism but once it is verified and proved that Verma has plagiarized chapters from Dhar’s book it is not judicious for the institute to promote him.
Director GIDS Surendra Kumar said that he is aware of the seriousness of charges. The matter is pending with the Board. Whatever decision the Board takes I will implement them in letter and in spirit. If Board says Verma will not be promoted I will follow that order, he said.
The author CS Verma said charges against him of plagiarism are false. “The matter of fact is I had taken verbal permission from Dhar, which unfortunately he cannot recollect now,
“Dhar’s book is a Government document. In fact, it is not a book this is annual economy monitor. I just used the figures from that book,” Verma told The Pioneer. “I have withdrawn the book from circulation once complaint of plagiarism was lodged,” he said.