‘Affiliation will be withdrawn if colleges are found guilty’

All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) chairman SS Mantha talks to DNA in the backdrop of allegations that private engineering colleges in the state have been collecting excess fee from undergraduate students who have got seats after clearing CET conducted by Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA)

Has AICTE received complaints against engineering colleges in the state for collecting excess fee from students? What action is it planning against such colleges?
We get complaints from all over the country, including about collection of excess fees by colleges. As soon as a complaint is lodged, we verify if it is authentic, and issue a show-cause notice to the college. After receiving a reply, we allow an appeal and if the college is found guilty, its admissions are reduced by half or cancelled. We withdraw the affiliation in certain cases.

Most colleges in the state are yet to appoint ombudsmen. Are you going to inspect that?
Last month, we notified a regulation on appointing ombudsmen in technical institutions for addressing students’ grievances. It needs to be followed by all collages. If any college fails to comply with ombudsman’s orders, AICTE will take action, including withdrawal of approval.

Many students surrendered seats because they were unable to pay the fee demanded by the colleges. Will AICTE take action against the colleges that forced students to surrender seats?
If a student is surrendering seat due to financial problems created by the institute’s mala-fide intention, a complaint can be lodged with AICTE and appropriate action will be taken. We introduced 5% seats under tuition fee waiver (TFW) scheme in every institute and in every course which economically backward students can avail. Tuition fee is completely waived off in this scheme.

Will collection of excess fee by colleges in the state affect new institutions applying for affiliation?
Every institute submits an affidavit which the state government that the information it provides on its website is true. If the information is found wrong, even criminal proceedings can be initiated. Colleges should realise that this is a world that does not pardon inequities and that quality alone would prevail.

Will AICTE consider this at the time of providing re-affiliation to colleges?
AICTE is committed to quality. We have launched initiatives to promote quality in institutions. We would be committed to set the highest standard.

How do you assess the quality of colleges in the state?
There are very good colleges in Karnataka and elsewhere. There are mediocre ones too. Efforts must be made to convert the institutions that have the potential to excel by providing the necessary inputs. Over-regulation will not help. Facilitating and enabling the processes to excel is the way to go.

Can students send complaints directly to ACITE?
Yes. However, they need to explore the avenues that are available to them locally. AICTE would strive to provide justice in time.

There are allegations that even AICTE is corrupt. Will you agree?
No. Over the past three years, we changed the processes—introduced e-governance and tried to bring in transparency and accountability. Any individual possessing information on malpractices by collages should approach AICTE. We will probe and take the necessary action. However, one should remember that we regulate more than 12,000 colleges with limited staff and a system that can have inconsistencies at times.