In a letter to the vice chancellors of all the universities, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has written that no technical college including management institute will be granted affiliation unless the council has given approval for the academic year 2014-15.
The letter issued on May 12 by AICTE SS Mantha comes in the wake of the Supreme Court’s interim orders on April 17 and May 9, restoring the AICTE’s power to approve new technical institutes or colleges for the year 2014-15
The UGC which regulates higher education in the country has come out with draft guidelines for new technical colleges/institutes, but the guidelines are pending final approval by the HRD ministry. UGC has also declared a one year moratorium on the sanction of new technical colleges in the fields of engineering and management.
However, the AICTE promptly released a notification on May 10 laying down the schedule for submission of pleas for new technical institutions, variation of students intake and starting of new courses in existing institutions, closure of course and change in the institute’s name etc. The online plea has to reach the council by May 18 and the approval process is expected to be complete by June.
