The Supreme Court has intervened to ensure the salary of a Jammu and Kashmir State Taxes Department official, Mohd Asad Choudhary, is released, ending a prolonged period of unpaid service stemming from the non-verification of his B.Tech degree. Choudhary, a Sub-Inspector, had been appointed in 2018 after completing his degree from Manav Bharti University in Solan, Himachal Pradesh. However, his confirmation in government service and subsequent salary payments were stalled due to the university’s inability to furnish the necessary academic verification reports.
Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that the crux of the issue lies in the university’s failure to provide Choudhary’s seventh and eighth-semester result records. These records are crucial for the final verification of his academic credentials by his employer, the Additional Commissioner, State Taxes (Administration and Enforcement), Kashmir. The Supreme Court, in a significant order dated October 14, has directed the State of Himachal Pradesh to facilitate the transfer of these vital records from the Himachal Pradesh Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission (HP-PERC) to Manav Bharti University.
The apex court’s directive mandates that upon receiving the records, the university must issue corrected Detailed Marks Certificates for Choudhary’s seventh and eighth semesters, along with any other consequential documents. Subsequently, the university is required to forward the complete verification report of Choudhary’s academic credentials to his employer within a three-week timeframe. Following the receipt of this verification, the employer is expected to release all pending salary arrears and associated consequential benefits to Choudhary within an additional four weeks.
This intervention by the Supreme Court comes after Choudhary’s appeal against a Himachal Pradesh High Court judgment from December 20, 2024. In its prior ruling, the High Court had advised Choudhary and other students from Manav Bharti University to seek redressal from the competent court of jurisdiction concerning the university’s persistent failure to verify their academic documents. The inability to secure this verification had directly impacted Choudhary’s confirmed appointment and his right to receive remuneration for his service.
The broader context of this situation involves allegations of degree sales by Manav Bharti University, which led to the registration of several cases against its administration and the seizure of university records by a Special Investigation Team. This action by law enforcement agencies significantly hampered students’ ability to obtain their academic documentation from the institution. The issue gained traction when students, including Choudhary, addressed a letter to the Chief Justice of the High Court, prompting the registration of a public interest litigation (PIL). Petitions filed by individual students were subsequently clubbed together for a consolidated hearing.
In response to the High Court’s order on August 1, 2022, the State Government established a Document Verification Committee on August 16, 2022. This committee, chaired by the Superintendent of Police, Solan, included representatives from the university’s administration and the Secretary of HP-PERC, tasked with addressing the verification challenges faced by students.
The employer, the Office of the Additional Commissioner, State Taxes (Administration and Enforcement), Kashmir, had repeatedly sought verification of Choudhary’s degree from the university. Official requests were made on May 19, 2022, September 22, 2023, and December 6, 2023. A letter dated July 11, 2024, from the department highlighted that the verification report remained outstanding, underscoring that Choudhary’s appointment was contingent upon the successful verification of his academic certificates.
In an earlier response to an application filed by Choudhary, the university, on July 26, 2024, confirmed his enrollment for the 2014-15 academic session. The university stated that his admission was against seats allocated by HP-PERC for a commission-approved course. It further indicated that Choudhary’s name appeared in the university’s Green Sheet and examination records, with no discrepancies noted regarding his admission year or registration. However, the university also pointed out that his name was not included in the admission disclosure list submitted to HP-PERC and did not appear on the approved list maintained by the commission. Subsequently, in a letter dated November 16, 2024, the university’s Registrar informed Choudhary’s employer about his student status and provided a copy of the Green Sheet, a document that appears to have been insufficient for full verification until the Supreme Court’s intervention.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
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