Karnataka bars 249 guest lecturers with fake PhDs

The Karnataka Department of Collegiate and Technical Education has barred 249 guest lecturers who submitted fake PhD certificates from participating in guest faculty selection for all future academic years.

The department has directed that criminal cases be registered against the 249 guest lecturers found with fake or invalid PhDs.

Fake certificates were discovered after complaints to the Lokayukta in 2025-26 led to a standard operating procedure for document verification by principals.

Of the 249 fake PhDs, 153 were from Kalaburagi, 24 from Bengaluru, 22 from Mysuru, 17 from Shivamogga, 2 from Mangaluru, and 31 from Dharwad.

The highest numbers of fake PhDs at single colleges include 20 at Shahpur govt degree college in Yadgir, 19 at Bidar first-grade college, and 13 at Gulbarga women’s college.