Thousands of degree certificates and mark sheets have remained unclaimed in several colleges for nearly 38 years in Alwar, a district in Rajasthan, creating a storage problem for institutions that are now struggling to keep the old records.
College authorities say that many students who passed their examinations years ago never returned to collect their original documents. As a result, stacks of certificates and mark sheets have continued to accumulate in record rooms and administrative offices.
Officials said the situation has gradually become difficult to manage. With new batches graduating every year, the space meant for storing academic records is now filled with old documents that were never collected by their owners.
College staff say they have repeatedly appealed to former students to come forward and take their certificates. However, the response has remained limited. In many cases, students may have moved to other cities for jobs or further studies and never returned to their colleges to collect the documents.
Administrators explained that the process of storing such records requires careful handling because academic documents must be preserved safely. These records are often kept for many years in case former students need them for employment, higher education or official verification.
Some officials believe that a lack of awareness and changes in communication over the years may have contributed to the situation. Earlier, students had to visit the college in person to collect original certificates, and many did not return once they had left the institution.
College authorities are now considering ways to address the issue. Some institutions have discussed digitising records or contacting former students through alumni networks to clear the backlog of documents.
Education officials say the problem also reflects how record-keeping practices have evolved. Many universities and colleges now issue digital copies of certificates or allow students to download documents online, reducing the need for long-term storage of physical records.
However, the old certificates and mark sheets stored for decades still need to be preserved until they are claimed. Staff members say they hope that former students will come forward to collect their documents so that record rooms can free up space for new academic records.
For now, the piles of certificates remain in cupboards and storage boxes across college campuses, quietly holding the academic history of students who completed their studies long ago but never returned to claim the documents.
