CBI books National Defence Academy principal over allegations of irregularities in teachers' appointment

Pune, June 7: Unfolding the hidden mysteries, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has lodged an FIR against the serving officials of National Defense Academy. The FIR has been lodged against the principal and professors of NDA and UPSC officials over alleged irregularities during the selection of senior faculty members in NDA.

 

The CBI mentioned that the officials had produced forged and false certificates indicating their service, teaching experience, and exaggerated Academic Performance Indicator (API) score. According to the FIR, some of the professors entered into criminal conspiracy with unknown officials of UPSC Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff and in pursuance got selected and appointed in different posts of teaching faculty in NDA without possessing mandatory teaching/research experience.

The initial inquiry by CBI revealed that the faculty members of NDA are appointed by Ministry of Defence on recommendations made by the UPSC. According to the process of selection, UPSC conducts preliminary scrutiny of the applications received and shortlists the candidates on the basis of their experience and API score.

CBI also claimed that Principal Om Prakash Shukla in 2007 allegedly submitted forged academic documents for the post of Professor of Economics. Again in 2011, Shukla exaggerated and submitted forged documents to improve API score and was finally selected. According to CBI, Shukla was not verified by the officials of the defense ministry.

The CBI registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 against the principal of NDA Pune, a professor of political science, two assistant professors in the Chemistry department and the head of department (HoD) of Chemistry.

The allegation that there were irregularities in the selection or appointment of teachers is currently under investigation and CBI is currently searching the offices of the accused. CBI says that once the searches are complete and the relevant documents are recovered, the agency will then be able to divulge more information.