Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has annulled the PhD degree of Dr. Ashok Kumar Sonkar, an Assistant Professor of History in the Faculty of Social Sciences, citing plagiarism in his thesis titled “A Cultural Study of the Garhwal Dynasty.” The Academic Council’s decision followed findings from the university’s Permanent Committee, sparking debate over academic integrity and alleged discrimination faced by marginalized communities in prestigious institutions.
The decision, announced by BHU Registrar Professor Arun Kumar Singh, bars Dr. Sonkar from using the title “Doctor” and from supervising PhD students until he earns a fresh doctoral degree. The university has granted him a reduced timeline of two years, rather than the standard three, to complete this process.
Dr. Brinda Paranjape, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, had initially flagged concerns regarding Dr. Sonkar’s thesis.
“Plagiarism is a serious offense, and the penalty imposed is rather lenient. The university must take stringent action to set a strong example,” she stated.
Despite the revocation, Dr. Sonkar has been permitted to retain his position as Assistant Professor, along with associated employment benefits, including salary increments and potential promotions. His current PhD students will be reassigned to other faculty members in the department.
Dr. Sonkar, however, disputes the charges, suggesting caste-based discrimination played a role in the university’s decision. He argued that plagiarism regulations enacted in 2018—eight years after he earned his PhD in 2010—were applied retroactively.
“My thesis was assessed using Orcid software in 2020, and only seven percent overlap was detected, well within the acceptable limit of ten percent. Yet, my case wasn’t fairly considered,” Dr. Sonkar said, adding that scholars from marginalized backgrounds face challenges in top-tier institutions.
The controversy reignites discussions on institutional biases in Indian academia. Marginalized scholars have often reported being subjected to differential treatment at elite universities. Dr. Sonkar’s case reflects ongoing tensions between maintaining academic standards and addressing social inequities within higher education.
Professor N.K. Mishra, BHU’s Controller of Examinations, supported the council’s decision, stating,
“Such acts must be met with strict action to maintain academic integrity.”
Dr. Sonkar has yet to reveal his future course of action but has indicated he will share his plans at a later date. Meanwhile, the academic community is closely watching the developments, with many viewing the case as a potential litmus test for addressing allegations of discrimination in India’s education system
