PGIMER to define punishment for Plagiarism

Chandigarh: The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research(PGIMER), which has been facing issues of plagiarism and research misconduct, of late, has decided to combat the hazard by framing combat guidelines. Presently the institute has no policy with provision of punishment for the guilty.

The decision has been taken in the face of recent incidences, where the institute doctors have been found involved in “ unethical practices”, while conducting research.

Lately, four doctors have been charge sheeted for plagiarism & research misconduct and have been given time to furnish their replies on why they should not be booked for the above charges.

These doctors are Dr Amitava Chakravarti, Head Pharmacology; Dr Pinaki Dutta, Associate Professor, Endocrinology; Dr Santosh Kumar, Associate Professor, Urology and Dr Rakesh Sehgal, Head Parasitology.

One of the accused Dr Pinaki Dutta recently apologized in response to a notice served to him. He is learnt to have accepted his fault.

In November 2016, Dean, PGIMER, Dr Subhash Varma, who was also Officiating Director then, had formed a Committee to frame guidelines to govern research practices and check plagiarism.

The Committee formulated that if 10 words are copied, consecutively, it will come under considered plagiarism.

“The guidelines only explained plagiarism and what preventive steps should to be taken. But it never discussed as to what action should be taken against those found guilty of research misconduct. Now, the administration is planning to have a policy which will clearly describe what action will be taken. The punishment can be departmental or academic,” a PGI administrative official told HT .

“One can be demoted, terminated from services, their increment can be stopped or they can be barred from participating in any research for 2-3 years,” he added.

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