Assam CM gets after USTM again
GUWAHATI, Feb 16: Training guns on USTM once again, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday levelled sensational allegations against the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), claiming that the institution has been “issuing fake certificates and degrees” to students.
The Assam chief minister made the allegation before mediapersons here on Sunday amid queries regarding the university’s “increasing financial liabilities of late”.
“The academic system at USTM is fraudulent, and the institution has been issuing fake certificates to students. The degrees, including PhDs, are allegedly being sold at the institution. There are no proper exams,” Sarma alleged.
Further, taking a dig at USTM Chancellor, Mahbubul Hoque, Sarma asked, “How can intellectuals, associated with the university, continue to support the institution and the chancellor who had once “fraudulently obtained an OBC certificate.”
Reportedly, the certificate was issued to Hoque on August 24, 1992, and his OBC status was officially withdrawn by the district administration on August 20, 1996.
On USTM’s reported financial liabilities, the Assam chief minister said the “institution is facing a financial crisis as the Assam government has blocked a significant amount of funds received by the university from external sources, including foreign networks”.
Sarma had since August last year, launched a slew of scathing remarks against USTM, accusing the university of “flood jihad”, a reaction apparently triggered by the artificial floods that inundated various locations of Guwahati (on August 5 last year).
The chief minister had blamed the “hill cutting by USTM” for escalating the problem of flash floods in Guwahati and even warned of moving the National Green Tribunal against USTM for alleged rampant hill cutting by the institute.
Subsequently, Sarma said USTM pass-outs seeking jobs in Assam, or for that matter, graduates from private universities of any other state, would have “to appear in another exam to be considered for jobs in the state.”
USTM plays down Assam CM’s charge
When contacted, official sources at USTM downplayed the remarks by the Assam chief minister, saying USTM, established under the provisions of the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya Act, enacted by the Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya, has been awarded the accreditation rating of “A Grade” by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in 2021.
“Besides, USTM is empowered by the University Grants Commission to award degrees as specified by the UGC. It has also received the necessary approval from AICTE, New Delhi; NCTE, ERC, Bhubaneswar, Pharmacy Council of India, BCI, New Delhi to run MBA, B.Ed., D. Pharm and B. Pharm, LLB (H) and BALLB (H) programmes respectively,” the official said.
“Last year, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and National Medical Commission (NMC) had approved the PA Sangma International Medical College (PIMC), a joint venture of USTM and the Government of Meghalaya,” the official added.