Greater transparency in AICTE needed, says CBI

The CBI conducted searches at the offices and residential premises of AICTE officials and the owners or directors of the institutions concerned. The documents seized during the raids are being scrutinised. The agency has so far sent 13 reports to the Ministry of Human Resources Development (HRD) mentioning irregularities in technical institutions, officials told Deccan Herald. It has also recommended “online submission and scrutiny of applications” and an immediate withdrawal of the approval of institutions that violate established norms.

In some cases, the built-up area of colleges was less than the prescribed criteria. Some institutions have obtained approval for “new colleges” by showing the buildings and facilities of “colleges approved earlier”, the CBI said. The AICTE allegedly ignored the recommendations of expert committees that pointed to shortage of staff and deficiency in infrastructure, besides giving a favourable report to benefit the institutions, according to the agency.

In certain cases, joint fixed deposit receipts were encashed or loans were raised against deposits without the prior consent of the AICTE, the CBI said. The agency also gave clean chit in respect of 72 complaints against AICTE-approved institutions.

Consequent to the investigation into several other cases, Dr K Narayan Rao, Member Secretary, AICTE, was arrested in July. Cases have also been registered against AICTE Chairman Prof R A Yadav and Advisor S P Rai and other officials of the council.  The CBI has offered a number of suggestions to the HRD Ministry including online submission and scrutiny of applications. Objections, if any, should be communicated online, and the applicants should track the progress of their applications online, the agency said.

The public should have access to all details electronically made available by any institution. Each institution should have separate prospectus and website with photos of the infrastructure besides the names of faculty members and other details. The CBI said any change of faculty members by any institution should be communicated to the AICTE, and the details posted on the websites of the institution and the AICTE.