Higher Education Minister C N Ashwath Narayan on Sunday said that a criminal case would be filed against those who were involved in circulating fake government notification on college holiday.
A fake circular that went viral on various social media platforms about the state government declaring a 15-day holiday for degree colleges from March 15 to 30 in the wake of the resurgence of Covid-19, had created confusion among teachers, students and college managements.
Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of a private function in Hubballi, Ashwath Narayan said that the government had not issued any such notification. “The government had not discussed this issue so far,” he added.
He said that some miscreants had uploaded this fake notification on social media, which has gone viral and has created confusion among the students and parents.
Saying that creating a fake notification in the name of the government is a big crime, he directed the cybercrime police to bookcases against those behind the fake notification.
He said nobody should play with the future of the students. “In these Covid pandemic times, people are still fear-stricken. When the government is taking all measures to see that the education system is not derailed in the state, it is unfortunate that such false news is being spread, the minister said.
Meanwhile, a senior official of the department told DH, “It (notification) was edited by some miscreants and we are filing a complaint with the cyber police on Monday. No holiday has been declared and colleges are functioning as usual,” the official clarified.