Updated on: Monday, June 21, 2010
What is this new AICTE process? A key AICTE official explained that the ‘New Approval Process 2010' aims at increasing transparency and eliminating any direct contact between AICTE officials and colleges.
Colleges must submit online particulars about their institutions in a new format. The requirements are more stringent as they require land or title deeds, proof of ownership and multiple documents to support every claim. A hardcopy of the same must be produced at the regional office.
“It is at this point that the problems began,” the official explains. While several managements, particularly in Kerala which comes under the same region as Karnataka, went to court claiming that the requirements are one too many, others complained that the new rules must apply only to new colleges. The submission dates were extended thrice. However, even after submissions were made, the AICTE found that the hard copies did not substantiate many claims made in the online application. A fresh deadline of June 19 (which is a day after the Karnataka Government scheduled the commencement of its admission rounds) was set to submit documents in a revised format.
The official said the AICTE has set June 23 as the deadline to finish the approval process for colleges in Karnataka and Kerala. While the old rules will be applicable to existing colleges, new colleges (or even those seeking increase in student intake or commencement of an additional branch) will have to strictly adhere to the new rules.