Kottayam: The Mahatma Gandhi University is gaining notoriety for sloppy services and corruption as proved by the recent arrest of an assistant who was caught by the Vigilance Department while taking a bribe of Rs 15,000 from a student. A significant issue that has not been so far given the attention it deserves is the undue delay in issuing certificates to students who passed out from here.
Around 50,000 applications for original degree certificates have been pending with the university for a long time. It is estimated around 6,000 such applications have been pending since 2017 when the digital facility was introduced for the first time.
As per the rule, a student, who applies for the degree certificate through the fast-track system, should get it within 20 days. But at the MG University, you will get it only within two months even if the student applies it through the fast-track route. Those who apply through the ordinary channel may have to wait for two to three years!
Another tough task for students is to get a transcript certificate, which is essential for a student aiming to get admission to foreign universities and also for jobs abroad. Almost 10,000 applications for transcript certificates are now pending with the university.
It is alleged that the university officials never give a clear answer to queries on the number of pending applications for such certificates.
All government offices are bound to conform to the Kerala State Right to Service Act. But the University is not ready to implement the Act. Though the State Government directed the University many times to implement the same, it authorities sidestepped such suggestions by making frivolous excuses.
A teacher, who tried to streamline the certificate delivery system, was reportedly harassed by the authorities. The teacher, who was a Syndicate member of the university for three years, prepared a computer software that managed the affairs of a student from the time of his taking admission to the time of his receiving degree certificate. But he was silenced by the powerful administrative lobby by putting up a volley of allegations against him.
Vigilance to probe Elsy's education
The Vigilance Department would probe into the complaint raised against the under-graduate degree obtained by CJ Elsy who was arrested for taking bribe. It was in CMS College, Kottayam, that Elsy wrote her degree examination under private registration.
The Vigilance Department sleuths would visit the CMS College and collect details soon. Elsy, who joined as a peon, became an assistant within seven years by clearing SSLC, Plus-Two and degree courses.
The Vigilance Department has already received complaints stating she didn't pursue a proper undergraduate course.
