Gauhati University sends professor on compulsory leave over plagiarism reports

Following the complaint, the university authorities set up a probe panel to ascertain the veracity of the allegations which subsequently submitted its reports.

A professor at Gauhati University has been sent on compulsory leave after an alleged plagiarism report was filed against him. On the basis of the executive council and ethics committee's recommendation, the authorities of Gauhati University have sent Dr. Prafulla Kr Nath on compulsory leave with effect from January 5. Dr. Prafulla Kumar Nath is a professor of Assamese at Gauhati University.  
As per reports, Mukut Choudhury, a teacher at Dispur HS School lodged a complaint with varsity authorities in 2018 that Dr. Nath plagiarized a book titled Adhunik Janane written by him. Following the complaint, the university authorities set up a probe panel to ascertain the veracity of the allegations which subsequently submitted its reports.

On the basis of the report, the executive council during an emergency meeting on December 27 recommended that Dr Nath should be sent on compulsory leave until the matter is sorted. Nath has also been relieved from all responsibilities of the department as well as examinations.

Choudhury also filed a complaint against Nath for plagiarism at Dispur police station and a case (No 250/18) under Sections 120(b) and 420 was registered against the university professor.  Nath was however granted bail by Kamrup (M) chief judicial magistrate (CJM)’s court, as reported by a local media house.

In September, Nath was also accused of plagiarism of another book edited by a renowned scholar of Assam. Scholar Dr. Jyotirmay Jana filed a police complaint alleging that Nath plagiarized a book edited by him. Dr. Jana, a former associate professor at Nowgong Girls’ College, in his complaint alleged that Dr. Prafulla Kumar Nath was involved in piracy of intellectual property, copyright violation and plagiarism.

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