The Odisha Government has cancelled the promotion of Kendrapara MP Anubhav Mohanty’s father Abhaya Kumar Mohanty, who is a retired English lecturer, after a revelation by the Department of Higher Education that the latter had submitted fake certificate to get elevation as a Reader in 1997.
The Principal Secretary to the High Education Department in a notification released on Thursday stated that the placement of Abhaya, a Retired Lecturer (SS) in English at Kandarpur College in Cuttack, as Reader with effect from January 2, 1997 in the pay scale of Rs 12,000-420-Rs 18,300 via a notification dated May 3, 2008 has been cancelled.
The department had initiated an enquiry based on the allegations that Abhaya had produced a fake refresher course certificate for getting the promotion.
The concerned department has sent the letter to Abhaya’s house in Cuttack and the authorities of Kandarpur College and asked them to take appropriate steps in this regard.
Earlier in June, the Higher Education department had withdrawn the extra pensionary benefits extended to the Kendrapara MP’s father in the revised pay scale (Reader) over the submission of fake refresher course certificate to get the promotion.
Abhaya, who is retired as English lecturer, was promoted to the post of Reader with effect from January 2, 1997 in the year 2008. However, an enquiry was conducted by the Higher Education Department after allegations were received that he had produced a fake refresher course certificate.
RTI activist and senior lawyer Nishikanta Mishra had substantiated through an inquiry report revealing that Abhaya had submitted a fake certificate of the refresher course from December 1 to 28, 1993 purportedly issued by Berhampur University. However, the varsity later clarified before the enquiry committee that no such course was imparted that year.