The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), which was probing over 70,000 fake certificates from different ministries and 23,000 from education sector alone for the last two years handed back certificates of more than 15,000 employees of the education-related institutions because it evidently lacked manpower to scrutinise the authenticity of the certificates. An official from the anti-graft body said the snag in probing these certificates arose after related ministries failed to do the preliminary investigation and that the CIAA could not waste its resources on it. While it is true that the cooperation of the departments concerned on the matter is no doubt vital, the probe should come to a grinding halt for whatever reasons now, however, would only embolden the cheating lot. If those possessing forged certificates had realised the futility of owning such fake credentials when the probe was first announced, that so many certificates were now returned without verification establishes the sad truth that who gamed the system with impunity would continue to try and seek refuge in forgery unhindered. It is unfortunate that an investigation on which so many people had pinned hope has made a premature exit. There is no denying that, to some extent, forgery has always pervaded a wide number of directorates and government ministries, highlighting the need for docking such mischievous elements. Forgery and hoodwinking are the hallmarks of inability and ineptitude. And when people occupy decision-making posts by resorting to this treachery, what direction they provide to their organisations cannot but be flawed in the first place.

Resorting to the rules outside the ethical boundary on one hand and legal system on the other is a deplorable act. Because the need for eliminating negative influence is ever stronger, no ministry must lie cosy with the fact that it has handed over the certificates to the CIAA to do the rest. Instead, government bodies must cooperate in digging out the truth so that all perfidious elements do not escape scot-free. Else, taking to court only a handful of the mischief mongers would certainly be an injustice to those who have already been made to face the jury. Moreover, most of the certificates under scrutiny are from the education department, a sector that ought to focus in promoting a cleaner society, producing an academically brighter lot and not crooks bringing ignominy to the whole system. The CIAA must continue to perform its duty irrespective of whatsoever disincentives it is made to encounter. That thousands of teachers have resigned since the launch of the enquiry is enough reason to continue the investigation.