Dehradun: The Uttarakhand High Court is currently investigating a shocking case of alleged fraud involving a 2005 faculty appointment at Kumaun University.
The case came to light after Pawan Kumar Mishra, a physics teacher based in NCR, claimed that his rightful position as a lecturer in the university’s physics department was fraudulently taken by another individual with the same initials, Pramod Kumar Mishra. This revelation has sparked a legal battle and raised questions about the integrity of the university’s recruitment process.
Pawan alleges that he was never informed about his selection
According to Pawan Kumar Mishra, he was selected for the position of physics lecturer at Kumaun University following interviews conducted in January 2005. The university’s executive council approved his appointment on February 28, 2005, along with three other candidates. However, while the other three candidates joined the university on the same day, Pawan alleges that he was never informed about his selection. Instead, a corrigendum issued on March 3, 2005, cited a “typing error” and replaced his name with that of Pramod Kumar Mishra. Subsequently, Pramod joined the university as a lecturer on March 19, 2005, and has since risen to the position of associate professor.
It was orchestrated by a botany professor at the university
The case took a dramatic turn in November 2024, when Pawan received a WhatsApp message from an unknown number, revealing the alleged deception. This prompted him to file a Right to Information (RTI) application, which uncovered documents supporting his claim. The RTI revealed that the corrigendum replacing his name was never presented to the executive council for approval, raising suspicions of foul play. In a conversation with News9live, Pawan further alleged that the switch was orchestrated by a botany professor at the university, whose daughter later married Pramod Kumar Mishra.
Uttarakhand HC summoned Kumaun University officials
Despite approaching the university’s vice-chancellor and filing a police complaint, Pawan’s grievances went unaddressed, leading him to take the matter to the Uttarakhand High Court. In a recent hearing, the court summoned Kumaun University officials and directed them to submit all records related to the 2005 faculty appointment. The court is now examining the evidence, including the corrigendum and the recruitment process, to determine whether the appointment was indeed fraudulent.
An issue related to transparency and accountability in academic institutions
Pawan’s lawyer has argued that the appointment letter was deliberately withheld from his client and has requested the court to quash Pramod’s appointment and formally recognize Pawan as the rightful candidate. The case has drawn significant attention, not only for its implications on Pawan’s career but also for the broader issue of transparency and accountability in academic institutions. The next hearing is scheduled for April 30, 2025, and the outcome could set a precedent for addressing similar cases of alleged fraud in recruitment processes.
