AICTE bars first-year admissions in 19 tech colleges in the state

AICTE bars first-yearAICTE bars first-year admissions in 19 tech colleges in the state

 

Two Institutes Obtain Interim Relief From HC

 

The All-India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) issued `no-admission' orders for 2014-15 to 19 of 25 technical institutes in the state, which were under scanner for alleged violation of norms. It means over 7,000 seats will not be available for this year's admissions as these colleges will not be able to admit any students in the first year of their undergraduate technical programmes. But some institutions obtained a stay from the Bombay High Court while others are planning to seek legal relief soon.

 

Mumbai University , which has most of the 25 affiliated colleges, has got letters from the AICTE for at least three colleges so far, said registrar M A Khan.

 

He said the university will take cognisance of the AICTE order and decide if they should be granted affiliation for this year.

 

One institute, running a management programme, sought closure and was granted permission, said AICTE chairman S S Mantha. In the remaining colleges, the AICTE ordered closure of some programmes or reduction of intake capacity , he added. Mantha said the AICTE follows a self-disclosure policy while giving sanctions and does not visit every college.

 

“When there is a complaint, we take action. Our representatives visited the colleges, gave them show-cause notices and all processes have been followed before putting them in the `no admission' category for this year,“ said Mantha.

The university received letters for Watumull Institute of Electronic Engineering and Computer Technology in Worli, Lokmanya Tilak College of Engineering and Indira Gandhi College of Engineering, both in Koparkhairane. Pillai Institute of Information Technology , Engineering, Media Studies and Research in New Panvel and KC College of Engineering (KCCOE), Thane, have already got interim relief from the HC and are allowed to participate in the CAP for 2014-15.

 

In May , the Supreme Court allowed the AICTE to go ahead with its approval process for new colleges and variation in student intake, new courses, etc in existing colleges only for 2014-15. The court had directed the AICTE to complete the process by June 10. However, in view of an extended hearing of grievances by institutions which were denied approvals, the AICTE moved the apex court and got the deadline extended till July 3. As such, the approval process was to end on Thursday .

 

The KCCOE and Pillai Institute had moved separate pleas in the HC against the AICTE's orders of June 10 and 23, respectively , restricting them from admitting students for 2014-15.

 

In the case of KCCOE, the AICTE justified its stance on the grounds that the college's petition against a similar `no admission' order passed by the council last year, was still pending in the high court. The KCCOE moved the Supreme Court, which passed orders on July 4 and December 6, 2013, allowing the college to admit students for 2013-14. For Pillai Institute, the AICTE cited deficiency in terms of land availability .

 

In an interim order passed on June 20 in the case of KCCOE, the high court division bench of justices Anoop Mohta and A A Sayed observed that the AICTE's impugned order on the grounds of pendency of petition was unsustainable.

“There was no reason for the respondent (AICTE) to pass similar order of `no admission' for this year after having noticed that the petitioner institute (KCCOE) has complied with all necessary formalities and there was no deficiency and the institute is otherwise eligible for grant of permission to admit students.“ The bench went on to stay the AICTE order.

 

The plea by Pillai institute has been posted for hearing on July 11, while the civil application by the KCCOE is to come up for hearing on July 18.

 

Teachers from Watumull College have written to the university seeking intervention.

 

Principal Sandhya Desai said the management will soon take a decision on moving court.

 

While colleges had more than 10 deficiencies as listed in the complaint by the NGO, Citizen Forum for Sanctity in Educational System, a state technical board official said many don't have occupancy certificate.

 

Meanwhile, two students moved the HC against the government for raising the eligibility criteria from 45% in the open category to 50% (in HSC) for admission to engineering colleges. If the court rules in their favour, engineering admissions might get further delayed.

 

  

Source | Times of India | 4 July 2014 admissions in 19 tech colleges in the state