AICTE move leaves students in the lurch

The future of 1,500 students hangs in the balance as the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) has de-recognised Parshvanath College of Engineering in Thane.

College authorities plan to move court against the AICTE in the interest of its students.

Chirag Shah, trustee of the Parshvanath College Trust, said: “There are several hundreds of students. We are seeking a stay on the AICTE’s orders from the Bombay high court. We are in the process of filing a petition.”

AICTE chairman SS Mantha said that the college has been violating several norms. “It has neither proper land nor the infrastructure to run the courses. It has been given notices several times, but nothing has been done. That is why we have withdrawn the council’s approval.”

Parshvanath College is set up on land belonging to the Jethalal Lakhamsi Charitable Trust, which had given it on lease to the college’s trust. An official of the trust said the college management has not paid rent for several months.