‘I don’t think it is a big or difficult problem for colleges to solve’

Incidents of students trying to take admissions fraudulently into Delhi University have become commonplace. How difficult is it to tackle the problem?
I don’t think it is a big or difficult problem for the colleges to solve because if you look at it, fake admissions happen through two ways — when students submit fake marksheets or fake caste certificates. If the colleges take adequate care in verifying marksheets and caste certificates from the issuing authorities, no such incident will take place. Results should be verified by various state and central boards, and the caste certificates by the issuing authorities.

What has the university done to ensure such admissions don’t take place?
The issue of taking admission through fake documents is viewed very seriously by the university. Strict warnings are issued, before and during admissions, to students through college prospectuses and admission forms that if students are found to have taken admission through fake documents, the college can lodge an FIR against the student, besides cancelling his/her admission.

Apart from issuing strict instructions and warnings, what more do you think can be done to ensure students don’t take admissions fraudulently?
The colleges are already doing everything to ensure no fake admissions take place. Maybe a foolproof way to solve the issue could be for colleges to be made aware of marks and results of students much before admissions. We have a central registration system for admissions, and if we can devise a system whereby a student’s result is checked and verified before their records are entered into the system for authenticity, that would help too.

A couple of colleges have hired forensic experts to detect fake documents. How effective is the process?
So far, colleges have never needed experts. But yes, if the need arises, it can be looked at.