UGC directs 556 universities not to affiliate Technical, Mgmt Colleges

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed 556 Universities not to affiliate Technical & Management colleges till guidelines and regulations for technical courses are put in place.

On the decision of Supreme court on April 25, which puts Management courses out of the technical colleges.

Decision say all private universities need to take the permission from the All India Institute of Technical Education (AICTE) for conducting the management courses.

The Supreme Court had said that AICTE's role vis-a-vis universities was "only advisory, re-commendatory and one of providing guidance, and has no authority empowering it to issue or enforce any sanctions by itself ".

The court said that AICTE norms could be applied through the UGC. As a result, the AICTE cannot directly "control" or "supervise" these affiliated colleges.

UGC will evolve a suitable methodology to ensure that the standards and quality in technical / engineering & Management colleges affiliated to universities is not diluted.

In his letter to vice-chancellors, UGC secretary Akhilesh Gupta wrote, "It is of utmost importance that universities having power of affiliation exercise take due care and diligence while granting permanent affiliation or affiliation to new technical colleges. Any dilution of standards of technical education at this juncture would also belie the trust reposed by the Supreme Court in the sanctity of the autonomy of the universities."

Meanwhile, Human Resource Department also considering the supreme court order, which made it possible to put management programmes outside the purview of the AICTE.

HRD minister Dr MM Pallam Raju had also said that the ministry was considering moving a review petition of the Supreme Court order.