ITANAGAR, Aug 30: The Himalayan University (HU) here has dismissed the report telecast by New Delhi-based news channel CNN-News18, which alleged that the university sold degrees.
The news channel recently carried out a sting operation, showing agents based in Delhi promising to get degrees from the HU without one having to attend classes. In a statement it issued on Friday evening, the HU authority here said it has no connection with the person shown in the sting operation.
“The news has depicted the university in bad light. We clarify that the university does not have any relation with such type of people or agency, directly or indirectly, and also does not support activities which will tarnish our reputation. The information shown in the news is totally incorrect and false, and we have initiated appropriate legal action against these types of people and agencies,” it said.
The university said it had in the past also taken legal action against such activities by filing FIRs and complaints.
“Our three complaints regarding running duplicate website and fake degree of our university is also pending for investigation at various legal forums,” it said, adding that fabrication of degrees and mark sheets is a crime, and that the person seen in the sting operation “is a fraudster who is running the racket in a very organized manner.”
“We applaud the efforts of CNN-News18 and praise their endeavour. However, the target in such cases should not be a particular university. Rather, we should all strive to target and eradicate antisocial elements who have no shame in selling fake degrees of any university, be it government or private.
“Such type of people worship only money, and can fall down to any lows,” the HU said.
Meanwhile, the human resource development ministry has constituted a high-power committee to look into the allegation. The five-member committee will be led by UGC Additional Secretary Dev Swarup.
The probe will be conducted against three private universities – Sunrise University (Rajasthan), Kalinga University (Chhattisgarh), and Himalayan University (Itanagar) – and three state universities: Yashwant Chavan Maharasthra Open University, Solapur University, and Andhra University in Vishakapatnam.
