---
title: "Engineers arrested for fake degrees"
subject: "Engineering Professional Practice"
chapter: 7
key: "semester_8/engineering_professional_practice:fake-degree-engineers-case"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/engineering_professional_practice/fake-degree-engineers-case
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Engineers arrested for fake degrees

Engineering Professional Practice · Chapter 7: Case Studies based on Engineering Practices

- Asked in: 2073 Magh, 4 marks
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/engineering_professional_practice/fake-degree-engineers-case
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/engineering_professional_practice/chapter-7

## Question

Recently the MPCD arrested few engineers of different stream on charge of producing and possessing fake engineering degrees and certifications. It is also not the case that the arrested engineers did not go to any engineering college. They did go to recognized engineering colleges and had attended the classes regularly during their academic course but had failed in few semester exams. Despite their repeated attempts, they were unable to overcome the fail results resulting harsh situation facing barrier for their career further education and professional growth. In the meantime, they decided to get fake degrees and certifications to eliminate severe situations. Before arrest, they were working in esteemed company with recognizable performance. How do you judge the behavior/act of arrested engineers on which background? What will be your suggestion to mitigate such situation/incidents never happen again in the society?

## Short answer

The act is unethical and illegal: fake degrees are forgery, endanger public safety, and are unfair to qualified candidates. Their career pressure does not justify fraud. Prevent by verifying certificates digitally, strict punishment, counselling and remedial support for failed students, and teaching professional ethics.

## Answer

#### Judgement of the act

The act of the engineers is unethical and illegal, whatever their background.

- **Dishonesty:** producing and using fake degrees is forgery and deceit. The Muluki Criminal Code 2074 punishes forgery of documents and the use of false documents. The Nepal Engineering Council Act 2055 allows registration only on a recognised qualification, so practising with a fake one is illegal and can lead to cancellation of their registration.
- **Danger to the public:** an engineer's first duty is public safety. A person who has not met the education standard may design or supervise unsafe structures, so society is put at risk even if the person performed well.
- **Unfairness:** they took the place of qualified candidates and damaged the reputation of the profession and the colleges.
- **Their situation:** repeated failure, career pressure and lack of options are human reasons and may earn some sympathy, but they do not justify fraud. The honest way was to pass the failed subjects, apply for other courses, or choose work that does not require a degree. Good job performance does not change the fact that the qualification was false; the court may consider it when deciding the punishment.

#### Suggestions to prevent such cases

1. Employers and the Nepal Engineering Council should verify certificates directly with the university or board before employment and registration, and a national digital certificate verification system should be developed.
2. Strict punishment, cancellation of registration and publication of cases to create deterrence.
3. Give students second chances and support: counselling, remedial classes, flexible re-examination, and alternative technical paths, so that failure is not seen as the end of a career.
4. Teach professional ethics in engineering education and run awareness programmes.
5. Reduce the importance of paper degrees alone by also testing real skills in recruitment.
6. Encourage reporting of fake certificates (whistle-blower protection).

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. How does the answer judge the engineers' use of fake degrees despite their good job performance?
   A. Acceptable because they performed well
   B. Acceptable because they were under pressure
   C. Unethical and illegal; good performance does not change the false qualification, though it may be considered in punishment
   D. Only a minor administrative error
   Answer: C. Fake degrees are forgery and deceit; their situation and performance may only affect sentencing, not the wrongfulness. (Key point: Judgement of the act)

2. Why is practising with a fake degree a danger to the public?
   A. Because it makes employers pay more
   B. A person who has not met the education standard may design or supervise unsafe structures
   C. Because fake degrees are printed on poor paper
   D. Because it reduces the number of students
   Answer: B. An engineer's first duty is public safety, and someone who has not met the standard may produce unsafe designs. (Key point: Danger to the public)

3. Which suggestion helps prevent such cases?
   A. Verify certificates directly with the university or board, with a national digital verification system
   B. Remove ethics from the curriculum
   C. Stop re-examinations for failed students
   D. Discourage reporting of fake certificates
   Answer: A. Direct verification, strict punishment, student support, ethics teaching, skill testing and whistle-blowing protection are suggested. (Key point: Prevention measures)

## Related in Engineering Professional Practice

- [Role of Nepal Engineers' Association](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Anea-role-golden-jubilee) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 3
- [Slippery floor injures consultant engineers](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Aslippery-floor-injury-blame) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 7
- [Samsung vs Apple compensation case](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Asamsung-apple-verdict) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 5
- [Importance of society to engineers](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Aman-society-importance-engineer) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 1, asked 2×
- [Liabilities engineers most suffer from](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Aliability-engineers-suffer) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 2
- [Short note: Nepal Engineers Association](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Ashort-note-nea) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 3

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