"The Case of the Forged Certificate: A Legal Battle Over Education Fraud in Bihar"

 

Introduction

The case revolves around Sudha Kumari, a woman who sought legal recognition of her educational qualification but was met with allegations of fraud. The dispute raised serious questions about document authenticity, procedural lapses, and potential corruption in the Bihar Sanskrit Shiksha Board.

This case was heard in the Patna High Court, under Letters Patent Appeal (LPA) No. 107 of 2016, following the rejection of her earlier Civil Writ Petition (C.W.J.C. No. 12764 of 2013). The primary contention was whether Sudha Kumari had rightfully obtained her Madhyama Examination Certificate, or if the document was forged.

Background of the Case

Sudha Kumari claimed to have passed the Madhyama Examination in 2000 from Baidic Sahitya Sanskrit High School, an institution under the Bihar Sanskrit Shiksha Board (BSSB). She was issued a mark sheet, a provisional certificate, and a school leaving certificate, based on which she applied for the position of Anganwadi Sevika.

However, when asked to produce her original certificate, her troubles began. The Bihar Sanskrit Shiksha Board (BSSB) denied any record of her registration or examination. Instead, they claimed that the roll number she presented belonged to another student—Kumari Shalinta Suman.

Faced with the accusation that she had fabricated her documents, Sudha Kumari filed a writ petition seeking legal recognition of her credentials.

Legal Proceedings

1. Dismissal of the Writ Petition (2013-2015)

• The Single Judge Bench of the Patna High Court (2015) dismissed Sudha Kumari’s writ petition, citing that:
  • There was no record of her appearing for the exam.
  • The roll number she claimed belonged to another student.
  • Her documents showed clear signs of forgery and overwriting.
• The court observed that her petition was based on false claims and dismissed it outright.

2. Appeal Before the Division Bench (2016-2021)

• Unwilling to accept defeat, Sudha Kumari appealed against the judgment before the Division Bench of the Patna High Court (LPA No. 107 of 2016).
• She argued that the Bihar Sanskrit Shiksha Board had manipulated its records and that she was wrongfully denied her certificate.

3. High Court’s Examination of Evidence (2019-2021)

• The High Court ordered the Bihar Sanskrit Shiksha Board to produce original records from the year 2000.

• Upon reviewing the records, major discrepancies were found:

  • Shalinta Suman’s name appeared twice (once as pass and once as fail).
  • Some students had duplicate roll numbers.
  • There was no record of registration number 1029 of 2000, which Sudha Kumari claimed as hers.
  • Another student’s registration number was assigned to multiple candidates.

• These inconsistencies raised suspicions about the credibility of BSSB’s records and suggested possible mismanagement or corruption.

4. Vigilance Investigation and Findings (2021)

• Given the seriousness of the allegations, the High Court ordered the Vigilance Department to investigate the Bihar Sanskrit Shiksha Board.

• The Vigilance Report (January 2021) revealed that:

  • The documents Sudha Kumari presented were NOT issued by the Bihar Sanskrit Shiksha Board.
  • Certain Board officials were complicit in issuing fake certificates.
  • The roll number issue was likely due to deliberate tampering.

• Conclusion: The investigation found that Sudha Kumari had likely used forged documents to claim her qualification.

Court's Final Verdict and Directions

1. Dismissal of Appeal

• The Patna High Court dismissed Sudha Kumari’s appeal, upholding the earlier ruling that she had no legitimate claim over the certificate.
• The court also found that multiple discrepancies in the BSSB’s records indicated possible corruption and malpractice.

2. Order to Register FIR Against Responsible Parties

• The court ordered an FIR to be registered against:
  • Bihar Sanskrit Shiksha Board officials responsible for document manipulation.
  • School authorities involved in the issuance of fake certificates.
  • Sudha Kumari, if found guilty of forging documents.

3. Call for Systemic Reforms in BSSB

• The court suggested a wider investigation into the Bihar Sanskrit Shiksha Board’s practices, as duplicate registrations and forgery appeared to be a systemic issue.

Conclusion

This case highlights serious flaws in the Bihar Sanskrit Shiksha Board’s record-keeping and raises concerns about fake educational certificates being used for government jobs.

The Patna High Court’s decision serves as a warning that:

• Forgery of educational certificates will not be tolerated.
• Strict verification processes are necessary to maintain the integrity of educational boards.
• Corrupt practices within examination boards must be thoroughly investigated and penalized.

As Sudha Kumari’s legal battle ends with criminal proceedings, this case serves as a landmark in exposing and addressing education fraud in Bihar.

Read the full judgement Below;

 https://patnahighcourt.gov.in/viewjudgment/MyMxMDcjMjAxNiMxI04=-FYz--am1--YImUWu8=