AICTE stops first year admissions of ITM College of Engineering from next academic session

Updated on: Wednesday, April 10, 2013

The apex body of technical education, AICTE, took action against Kamptee-based ITM College of Engineering, and stopped its first year admissions from next academic session. However, Nagpur University, which had blindly granted affiliation to the college, is yet to take any action against the college.

Though NU had constituted a five-member enquiry panel under professor Dilip Peshwe of department of metallurgy at Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), to look into the deficiencies in the college, its report is yet to see light of the day.

Ironically, NU officials from Board of College and University Development (BCUD) had said last month that the panel was asked to submit its report within two weeks. Almost a month later, the panel is yet to initiate any action.

Peshwe refused to spell out details, only saying that they will let the newspaper know when they start the enquiry. "We will also inform you after we submit the report to NU, there is nothing to hide," he said.

The other members in the panel are professor and head of civil engineering department Vasant Mhaisalkar, senior professor Anil Kothari from electrical department, professor and head of computer science department Shailesh Sathe (all from VNIT) and A Dhumne from Government College of Engineering, Chandrapur.

Last month, Peshwe told TOI he had not received a letter from NU regarding the enquiry, even as NU officials claimed they had already dispatched it long back. He had also asked how NU could constitute the enquiry without taking consent of the members, and why NU itself could not take action against a college in its jurisdiction.

NU PRO Prashant Mohite was unavailable for comments.

The panel had been constituted by vice chancellor Vilas Sapkal after NU BCUD director Arvind Chaudhary heard the ex-HOD of the ITM college who had lodged a complaint, and the college management. Prima facie, irregularities were found in the college, and to verify those an independent panel of senior lecturers from VNIT was appointed. "The panel will be at par with NU's Local Enquiry Committee (LEC) and will visit the college to verify infrastructure and facilities, which were deficient at least on paper," NU officials disclosed.

Sources said that NU administration led by Sapkal failed to take cognisance of the AICTE letter received last week and did not even bother to contact Peshwe-led panel for enquiry report. The letter asked NU to ensure that college run by Wardhaman Bahuddeshiya Sanstha did not admit students to its 300 seats unless the college removed all deficiencies and established infrastructure as per norms.

AICTE stops first year admissions of ITM College of Engineering from next academic session

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