Before applying for his post as the principal in 2014, Principal Manoj Sinha had published five books and eleven journal papers. Atleast eight of these along with four other works have been claimed to be plagiarized by a whistle blower. Atleast six of these claims have been verified.
Research by the ‘Turnitin’ plagiarism check software shows that there is a “similarity index” ranging from 60% to 90% from some other publisher.
A comparison of the plagiarised research papers with the sources also showed that several sections in different papers were lifted verbatim and not quoted or cited as reference. The complainant has also highlighted the publishing of the same material in two places and attempts to take credit for it twice.
DUTA has also written to the Vice-Chancellor asking for an independent and speedy inquiry into the matter, since it is a matter of the reputation of the University and it’s Principals.
According to the UGC regulations, the penalty for plagiarising above 60% of an academic publication would invite withdrawal of the manuscript, denial of two successive annual increments and a barring from supervising any new master’s or Ph.D scholars for a period of three years.
Mr.Sinha, who has been teaching for the last 29 years claims that the plagiarism may have taken place inadvertently given the immense pressure of submissions. Regarding the charge of self-plagiarism, he said the paper was published in a book without his knowledge by the organisers of a conference he presented the paper at in Allahabad.
