“We are mulling on introducing digital mark sheets here. The fake mark sheets are being prepared in other states and sent here which can be prevented by digitisation,” Chatterjee said while addressing students at the convocation ceremony of Ashutosh College on Sunday.
The minister also added that the digitisation process could be completed within 6 months from the start of work. “The digitisation would also help to restore-mark sheets without the worry of losing it and can be provided urgently those pursuing job-related entrance tests,” the minister said. The state higher education department has written to the home department which in turn has forwarded the letter to the director general of police and Kolkata police commissioner to look into organised rackets dealing in fake marksheets.
Earlier, the Jorasanko police station had received a complaint from the University of Calcutta alleging that a youth had submitted fake mark sheet to secure admission in a law college. University employees suspected that the graduation mark sheet was fake and brought this to the registrar’s notice, who in turn called up the police. The youth had said in the interrogation that he had got the marksheet from his uncle, a resident of Nadia’s Dhantala. According to the information given to the investigators, the youth’s uncle in Nadia said that he had obtained the marksheet for Rs 13,000 from a resident of Ranaghat area. Later, the accused at Ranaghat was also arrested and the Kolkata police also arrested six lawyers for submitting fake marksheets.
Meanwhile, the Kolkata police are keeping a close watch on some private colleges who have been promising quick certificates on completion of correspondence courses. The investigators feel that there are organized groups dealing in counterfeit marksheets and certificates.
Concerned over these incidents, the higher education department has decided to introduce digital marksheets. “ Fake marksheets are not only reason for digitisation, as existing marksheets often gets damaged over the years. Many students come to us to take alternative mark sheets after losing the original one; in this process, the mark sheets can be obtained easily. It will help the students and officials of the education department as well,” said an official.