Using Fake Educational Certificates for Government Jobs Is Unforgivable: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court in Commissioner of Police & Ors. vs. Ex. Ct. Vinod Kumar has ruled that securing a government job using a forged educational certificate is an “uncondonable” act, and such misconduct cannot be overlooked simply because a full departmental inquiry was not held.

A Bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Prashant Kumar Mishra reinstated the dismissal of a Delhi Police constable, noting that once the allegation of forgery remains unchallenged, the lack of a detailed inquiry does not invalidate the termination.

The Court emphasised that the respondent had never disputed that the degree he submitted at the time of recruitment was fake. Since the job of a police constable requires maintaining the rule of law, the Court observed that entering the service through fabricated documents is a serious offence that cannot be excused on technical grounds.

“No holding of a departmental inquiry in these facts cannot vitiate the dismissal,” the Bench clarified.

Background of the Case

The constable was appointed to the Delhi Police in 1988. In 1996, a complaint surfaced alleging that the degree he had furnished during recruitment was forged. The department dismissed him in 1997 without conducting a full-fledged inquiry. He challenged this before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), which set aside the dismissal. The Delhi High Court later upheld the CAT’s view and directed the authorities to carry out a complete inquiry.

The Police Department approached the Supreme Court contesting this direction.

Supreme Court’s Decision

While setting aside the High Court order, the Supreme Court held that a full inquiry becomes unnecessary when the foundational fact—submission of a forged certificate—stands completely proven and unrefuted.

The Court stressed that allowing a person who obtained a post in a uniformed force through fraud would undermine public trust and compromise the integrity of the police service.

The appeal by the police department was allowed.