Training guns on USTM once again, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday levelled sensational allegations against the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), claiming that the institution has been “issuing fake certificates and degrees” to students. The Assam chief minister made the allegation before mediapersons here on Sunday amid queries regarding the university’s “increasing financial liabilities of late”.
“The academic system at USTM is fraudulent, and the institution has been issuing fake certificates to students. The degrees, including PhDs, are allegedly being sold at the institution. There are no proper exams,” Sarma alleged. Further, taking a dig at USTM Chancellor, Mahbubul Hoque, Sarma asked, “How can intellectuals, associated with the university, continue to support the institution and the chancellor who had once “fraudulently obtained an OBC certificate.” Reportedly, the certificate was issued to Hoque on August 24, 1992, and his OBC status was officially withdrawn by the district administration on August 20, 1996.