Was there any police clearance sought by the Ministry of Education before HASMUKH LAL (at a Topper meeting last year in photo above with Aiyaz Khaiyum) was offered the job, so that they would have the benefit of a background check on him? Appointing an alleged plagiarist to that Board to select and award scholarships is like placing
DRACULA to guard the BLOOD BANK
HASMUKH LAL had assigned his niece at USP, PRIYA DEVI, to conduct research on a specific topic without informing the poor girl his true intention. Suddenly, he sent her on leave, and sent her work as his to the online Atlantic University to obtain his PhD. On her return to USP, Devi discovered the treachery, reported the matter to USP authorities who carried out an investigation and concluded that he had plagiarised Devi's research, and obtained the PhD based on research which was USP Document. He was SACKED from the University of the South Pacific. Why is the Opposition (especially NFP leader BIMAN PRASAD) quite as a church mouse on HASMUKH LAL? For, there is no political mileage to be gained unlike the sacking of Fiji Bureau of Statistics chief Naiqama?
PRASAD was very quick on his feet to defend is wife in Parliament
A working group has been established to facilitate necessary legislative amendments to the existing provisions of the Tertiary Scholarship and Loans Act in consultation with the Solicitor General’s office. This as the coalition government is in the process of forgiving over $600 million in tertiary scholarship and loan debts and resetting the funding of tertiary students moving forward. Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Biman Prasad says a working committee has been established to evaluate and discuss relevant policies and existing laws to determine the best way forward to plan the proposed debt write-off. Source: FBC
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The case where former CEO of the Pacific Technical and Further Education, Dr Hasmukh Lal has taken USP to court following his dismissal continues in the Employment Court today. Dr Lal alleges his dismissal by Vice-Chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia was against procedures and did not allow him natural justice. He is alleging that there was breach of contract by USP and is claiming financial loss such as salary, and entitlements under the contract, humiliation and loss of dignity. Dr. Lal is claiming about $500,000 as loss of salary. He was dismissed from USP due to alleged plagiarism in his doctorate paper. He is represented by Siddarth Nandan while Feizal Haniff is representing USP.
From Fijileaks Archive, 6 October 2020
USP to Hasmukh Lal: “On 07 June 2019, you were conferred the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from the Atlantic International University. You subsequently submitted the DBA degree to USP for purposes of updating BANNER with the said doctorate. On 14 May 2020, USP obtained a copy of your thesis entitled “Business Impact of Strategic Mergers in Higher Education: A study of Pacific TAFE of University of the South Pacific” that you submitted to the Atlantic International University for the award of the DBA. The thesis paper that you submitted for the award of the DBA to the Atlantic International University is the same as that submitted by [name withheld] to you on 22 May 2019 entitled ‘Business Impact of Strategic Mergers in Higher Education: A Study of Pacific TAFE of University of the South Pacific.’ If it is established that you used a USP Document to represent a work of your own to obtain a DBA, it would constitute a breach of paragraph 4.1 of the Code of Professional Conduct for Academic Staff. Such a breach would be classified as “gross misconduct” on your part under the USP Discipline of Academic, Professional, Administrative, Library and Technical, Intermediate and Junior and Hourly Paid Staff Ordinance.”
According to USP insiders, when Hasmukh Lal first appeared on the Laucala Bay campus a few years ago, he was already 'Doctor' and then suddenly, he was 'Mr', and in 2019 'Doctor' - Ping Pong Doctor or as Indo-Fijians might refer to him, 'Ponga PhD Doctor'. Usually, Ponga is reserved for Pandits (Hindu Priests) - A Pandit who recites mantras or holy scriptures without knowing what they mean or what is their essence, is called a Ponga Pandit
On 24 June 2020, we wrote to Atlantic International University and so far we have not heard from them. We were informed by the Admissions Counsellor & Team Lead, Admissions Department, that the matter had been referred to the AIU´s Board for their revision. We had also sent a separate note to his supervisor: Dear Edward, The same question to you, for in his e-mail dated 8 April 2019 to Sandra, Hasmukh writes: "Pls do talk to Edward about my last assignment and my final project!"
