Patna, June 14: Several students who line up at various colleges of Patna University (PU) for admission attach caste certificates with their forms to reap the benefits of the reserved categories. But often the documents they submit are fake.

Sources said with the last date for submitting filled-in forms — June 22 — drawing near, the flurry of activities surrounding admissions at various colleges under PU has reached a fever pitch. Students with marksheets of school-leaving examinations and other documents are a common sight at these colleges.

The certificates submitted by the students as proof of their castes often turn out to be bogus. But the university does not have either the resources or the manpower to verify each and every certificate submitted.

The process of checking and verification of certificates is a time-consuming and expensive affair.

Random checks are conducted at times, and if students are found guilty of submitting false documents, they are expelled. Such checks, however, are rare, said sources.

A senior PU teacher said: “Many general category students often apply for admission using fake caste certificates for reserved categories.”

According to the policy of the university, 50 per cent seats are reserved for students under Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Castes and physically challenged categories.

The teacher also said: “We are often sceptical about the caste certificates submitted at the time of admission. However, as the process of verification is a time consuming and expensive affair, the university hardly ever goes for it. According to the administrative guidelines, the sub-divisional officers (SDOs) issue caste certificates. Students from other districts, such as Khagaria, Madhepura or East and West Champaran, often indulge in such practices.”

The teacher added: “There is a gang that helps students procure such fake certificates. They have all the material, such as official pads of the SDOs, stamps and sample signatures of the officers concerned.”

A student has to cough up between Rs 400 and Rs 500 to get the certificates.

Fake marksheets are also not rare.

“A few years ago some students submitted fake Intermediate marksheets during the admission process. Later, the university lodged a complaint and a few persons were arrested in this connection.”

Sudipto Adhikari, vice-chancellor, PU, said that fake caste certificates had been used during admission process earlier and the university is serious to curb the menace.

Recently, the university received 15 certificates from across the country for verification. All of them were found to be fakes.

The certificates were sent for verification, as based on these, a number of people had landed jobs in various companies.

Adhikari said: “We have requested the police to lodge an FIR in this connection. Some persons from the university office may also be involved in such activities.”