Birgunj Public College : Certificate Dispute Sparks Debate, Deepak Bahadur Shakya underfire

Sagar Suraj 

Motihari: The open border between India and Nepal has long symbolized friendship, trade, education, and cultural unity. 

Thousands of students cross the border every year in search of better opportunities and academic recognition. But a recent controversy surrounding Nepal-based Birgunj Public College has sparked debate over trust, transparency, and the credibility of academic documents exchanged between institutions of the two neighboring nations.

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The controversy emerged after 'Border News Mirror'-a bilingual news paper reportedly questioned the authenticity of an experience certificate allegedly issued by Birgunj Public College to a former teacher who later applied for a position in a reputed Indian university.

 According to sources linked to the matter, the duration mentioned in the certificate allegedly overlapped with employment records from another institution, raising doubts during the recruitment verification process.

What further intensified suspicion, critics claim, was the alleged silence of the college administration. Sources stated that repeated emails seeking verification of the certificate reportedly received no formal response despite several reminders. The absence of clarification from the institution, observers argue, deepened uncertainty and left the college management facing uncomfortable questions.

The issue is now being viewed as more than a dispute over one certificate. Education experts say the matter reflects the growing challenge Indian institutions face while verifying foreign-issued academic and experience documents. 

Though no court or government agency has officially declared the certificate fake, the allegations have triggered wider discussions about the need for stronger verification systems between India and Nepal.

The controversy has also brought renewed attention to Dr. Deepak Shakya, who is associated with the management of Birgunj Public College and currently serves as Vice Chancellor of Madhesh University.

 In the past, critics in Nepal had questioned appointments of individuals linked to BPC within the university structure, alleging favoritism and institutional influence. 

Supporters of the university, however, maintain that all appointments were made according to legal provisions.

While this correspondent attempted repeatedly to record the version of Dr. Shakya regarding the allegations, no response could be obtained till the filing of this report.

Despite the controversy, Birgunj Public College continues to function legally with affiliations from recognized Nepali universities and remains active in management education and academic activities. Yet voices in some circles have reportedly demanded a review of its affiliations by Nepal’s University Grants Commission if transparency concerns remain unanswered.

Observers believe that unless such concerns are addressed openly, controversies of this nature could gradually strain academic trust between the two neighboring countries.