All India Council for Technical Education has filed a plea in the Madras High court, seeking to stay a single judge’s order directing it to consider a request of a private college for grant of extension of approval despite the CBI filing cases against it.
Counsel for AICTE submitted before the Madurai bench comprising Justices R Banumathi and B Rajendran that the judgment was contrary to AICTE policy that any institution, society, trust, company or member belonging to these if charge-sheeted shall not be considered for extension of approval unless they are acquitted.
Disposing of a plea filed by Sun College of Engineering and Technology, Erachakulam, Kanyakumari, seeking extension of AICTE approval for 420 engineering seats besides some MBA, MCA and ME seats for 2012-13, Justice K B K Vasuki had directed the AICTE to consider the request.
The college had applied to the AICTE on January 11 this year followed by two representations in April but without reference to the CBI proceedings.
Counsel argued the college had challenged the clause which was still pending before the court and adjourned to June 14. “The May judgement that does not refer to the clause is erroneous and liable to be set aside.”
Counsel for the college said expeditious approval for the college was important in view of admission for seats for academic year 2012-13. After hearing the arguments, the judges adjourned the case to June 25.
In a related development, hearing on the criminal original petitions filed by chairman of the college C Thayaparan and a former AICTE official B G Sangameshwara, to quash the criminal case filed against them by CBI in 2009, was adjourned to June 20 by Justice R S Ramanathan.
Sangameshwara was chargesheeted for abuse of official position (in granting approval to the college) and booked under IPC section 420 (cheating) and provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act. Thayaparan faced charges under various IPC sections that include submission of forged fixed deposits, purportedly issued by Tamilnad Mercantile Bank, along with his wife for Rs 1.10 crore to AICTE.
