Chandigarh: A complaint questioning a faculty appointment at a college in Chandigarh, reached Panjab University (PU) in 2013. The appointment involved a faculty member who was the ward of the then college principal and PU senator.Over the next 13 years, the issue would trigger complaints, verification proceedings in Meghalaya, a university inquiry and a Syndicate-approved report. Yet, the appointment remained in place, and PU’s first concrete move against appointments linked to the disputed Meghalaya university degrees came only in 2026.The prolonged timeline has now shifted attention from the validity of qualifications alone to the university’s handling of the controversy. Documents reviewed by TOI show that the issue repeatedly returned to PU through complaints, committee proceedings, legal scrutiny and verification exercises before the university finally directed affiliated colleges this month to take action against teachers whose eligibility was based on the disputed degrees.The college appointment was among the earliest cases to be challenged. Objections regarding the qualification used for eligibility reached PU and multiple authorities in June 2013. Within weeks, the matter had become part of a wider controversy surrounding degrees awarded by the Meghalaya-based university.On Aug 14, 2013, PU’s Syndicate declared degrees awarded by the university de-recognised. Subsequent proceedings before authorities in Meghalaya examined individual cases linked to the controversy.Documents available with TOI indicate that in one such case connected to the Chandigarh appointment, the PhD degree was recorded as “not valid” during proceedings before a hearing committee.The issue resurfaced in 2018 when PU constituted a committee to visit Meghalaya and verify records. The committee’s findings were subsequently accepted by the Syndicate on Dec 8, 2018.According to RTI activist Rajinder Kumar Singla, whose complaints led to the inquiry process, the committee report recommended civil and criminal action after obtaining legal opinion.“Based on my complaints, Panjab University constituted a committee to visit Meghalaya and verify the records. The committee report was accepted by the Syndicate on Dec 8, 2018. It recommended civil and criminal action against the culprits after obtaining legal opinion,” Singla said.Despite the complaints, de-recognition decision, verification proceedings and committee findings, the matter remained under legal examination for years. PU continued to seek legal opinion while the controversy remained unresolved.Only in 2026 did the university direct affiliated colleges to take action against teachers whose eligibility was based on the disputed degrees. Around 17 teachers have been identified so far, according to university sources.Even now, the process remains incomplete. A senior college administration official said that colleges are still identifying faculty members whose appointments may be affected by the university’s communication.The sequence of events has prompted questions over why a matter that generated complaints in 2013, a Syndicate decision in 2013 and a Syndicate-accepted inquiry report in 2018 took until 2026 to reach the stage of administrative action. With colleges now examining affected appointments, scrutiny is likely to focus not only on the qualifications but also on the long administrative journey that preceded the university’s decision.What PU knew and whenJune 2013: Complaint received. No action takenAug 2013: PU Syndicate de-recognises Meghalaya university degrees. No action taken2013-14: Verification proceedings undertaken. No action follows2018: PU committee verifies records in Meghalaya. No action takenDec 2018: Syndicate accepts committee report. No action taken2026: PU finally directs colleges to act. Teachers still being identified
