UP Cabinet okays cancellation of JS University recognition over ‘fake degree scam’

Upadhaya further informed that the documents of all students will remain in the custody of BR Ambedkar University, Agra, which would provide future certificates to them after proper verification.

The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet on Tuesday approved the cancellation of recognition of JS University, Sikohabad, in Firozabad district after inquiries found the private institution’s involvement in an alleged fake degree scam.

As the decision is likely to affect about 4,000 students from different streams at the university, the government has decided to form a three-member committee under the Vice-Chancellor of BR Ambedkar University, Agra, for verification and future clearances.

JS University chancellor Sukesh Yadav and registrar Nandan Mishra were arrested in March last year by the Rajasthan Police, which found that the degrees provided by applicants from the university were “fake” and the number of selected students was higher than the actual sanctioned seats there.

Later, the Uttar Pradesh departments of Home, and Higher Education Department as well as the Firozabad district administration had conducted separate inquiries, and found the university had given degrees far more than the sanctioned seats and for streams for which it did not not even have recognition.

The university was established in 2015.

“The JS University chancellor and registrar were arrested by Rajasthan Police in March 2025 after they found the degrees of selected candidates for physical education teachers’ exam to be fake,” said Uttar Pradesh Higher Education Minister Yogendra Upadhaya.

“We took cognizance of this and a decision has been taken to start the process of cancellation of the university’s recognition. It was also found that they had given degrees more than double the number of the sanctioned seats,” the minister said.

The three-member committee headed by the BR Ambedkar University V-C will manage the university’s affairs during the process of its closure. The committee will have the BR Ambedkar University registrar and a local administration official as its members.