More city management institutes under the scanner

THE arrest of education baron A Balasubramanian,chairman of Sri Balaji Society,for allegedly flouting norms of All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) may be only a tip of the iceberg. There are a few other management institutes in the city that are under the scanner of AICTE for functioning without proper infrastructure.

The CBI has charged Balasubramanian with conspiring with the AICTE officials to get favourable reports to run management institutes without prescribed infrastructure. This has triggered speculations in the education circle as to whether other management institutes would now face similar action.

An AICTE member told The Indian Express,on the condition of anonymity,that there were some more management institutes in the city that were under the scanner. “We cannot give the names of the institutes at this juncture,as it will be like tipping them off before action,” he said.

He,however,said the AICTE was serious about the whole issue of flouting norms and action would definitely be taken against such institutes. “It has been observed that the institutes after getting approval from AICTE start misusing their powers. It has been found that the institutes show something during visits of committees and do something else afterwards. We are going to be harsh for such institutes,” said the member.

His comment assumes significance as on Tuesday CBI’s superintendent of police (ACB) Vidya Kulkarni had said that the CBI team had made a surprise visit to another management institute in the city. However,the team found that the other institute was adhering to the AICTE norms.

Three months ago,the University of Pune had received number of complaints from students of two well-known institutes — an engineering and a management institute. After an inquiry,the varsity had subsequently made amendments in norms for management institutes. However,a stringent action against them is awaited.

Balaji’s hostel buildings turned classrooms

After an inquiry,it was found that Sri Balaji Society were using hostel buildings on the campus for academic premises for Balaji College of Law and Balaji College of Arts,Science and Commerce. These two colleges are recognised by the University of Pune. Officiating Vice-Chancellor UoP Arun Adsool said the varsity on its own would verify whether the norms were flouted by the institute. “There is no complaint about the institute till date. There is no adverse remark in the report of local inquiry committee too,” he said.