OPJS University Accused of Issuing 43,409 Fake Degrees

Om Parkash Jogender Singh (OPJS) University in Churu, Rajasthan, has come under intense scrutiny by the state's special operations group (SOG) of the police for allegedly issuing fake and backdated degrees. Founded in 2013, the private institution has been accused of awarding 43,409 degrees without proper accreditation, sparking a major investigation.

The investigation gained momentum following the arrest of the university's founder-owner, Joginder Singh Dalal, days before the inquiry commenced. Alongside Dalal, former chairperson Sarita Karwasra and former registrar Jitendra Yadav were also apprehended on July 5. The arrests came in response to multiple complaints from students, triggering suspicions about the authenticity of the degrees conferred by OPJS.

SOG sources disclosed that OPJS allegedly issued degrees for BEd, BPEd, and MSc agriculture programs before obtaining necessary accreditation. ADGP (SOG) VK Singh highlighted, "A detailed probe into the fake-degree scam was launched after allegations surfaced that the university was issuing backdated degrees and certificates, some even before the varsity received relevant accreditation for running the courses."

DIG (SOG) Paris Deshmukh revealed startling figures, indicating that since its inception, OPJS has awarded 708 PhDs, 8,861 engineering degrees, and 1,640 physical education degrees. Investigations uncovered significant irregularities in the physical training instructor (PTI) recruitment exam of 2022, where over 1,300 candidates allegedly claimed qualifications from OPJS despite its accreditation for only 100 seats since 2016.
Operational Challenges and Government Response

Concerns were also raised about the university's operational capacity, given its small staff size of fewer than 30 employees, including a minimal number of administrative personnel. "With such limited numbers, it is not possible to run a university," noted Deshmukh.

The Rajasthan higher education department took swift action, ordering a halt to new admissions across all courses at OPJS on June 24. This decision followed previous restrictions by the University Grants Commission (UGC), which barred OPJS from enrolling students in PhD programs due to irregularities discovered in December.
The education department is now tasked with reassessing degrees issued by OPJS, with particular focus on those used for employment in government positions. As the investigation continues, authorities remain vigilant, ensuring accountability and integrity in higher education across the state.

The case of OPJS University underscores the importance of robust regulatory oversight to safeguard the credibility of educational institutions and protect the interests of students and the public alike.