B-schools get SC relief against AICTE guidelines

In a breather to about 545 business schools in the country, the Supreme Court today gave a stay order for a year on a notification on admission and fees issued by the All- India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

In December 2010, AICTE had issued a notification on post-graduate diploma in management (PGDM) courses with eight guidelines. Of these, its proposal to regulate the fee and course curriculum of all the B-schools was the most contested. Though the final verdict is yet to be released, legal counsels for the Education Promotion Society of India (EPSI), which challenged the AICTE guidelines, and AICTE have confirmed the move.

The court order implies that the B-schools which come under the ambit of AICTE will be free to select candidates through any of the five national-level entrance tests for 2011. Besides, they will also retain the power to take group discussions and personal interviews.

However, the B-Schools have to inform AICTE about the test through which they will be selecting candidates.

The Association of Indian Management Schools and EPSI had filed writ petitions in the Supreme Court, challenging the recent guidelines on PGDM courses by the technical education regulator last month.

The AICTE counsel, when contacted, confirmed the move, saying interim relief for one year has been granted on certain aspects. The court has said the B-schools can have two invitees on their board one from AICTE and one from the state, instead of five invitees notified by AICTE earlier.