HC stays AICTE's order refusing approval to 14 institutions

In a relief to 14 technical institutions in Maharashtra, the Bombay High Court has stayed orders of the All India Council of Technical Education refusing them "extension of approval" and placing them in "no admission" category for the current academic year (2014-15).
Division bench of Justices A V Mohta and Amjad Sayed, on July 14, granted a stay, observing that "prima facie we find that the manner and haste in which AICTE has passed the orders is unjustifiable....There are infirmities in decision-making process in passing the impugned orders."
The court was hearing petitions filed by 13 of these institutions challenging the orders of AICTE.

The judges, however, made it clear that these institutions can grant only provisional admissions as of now, and they must inform the students that admissions would be subject to the final decision of the court on the petitions.
"The petitioners and the students shall not claim any equity (rights) on the basis of this order," the HC said.
AICTE is empowered to ensure that all the institutions recognised by it possess complete infrastructure, staff and other facilities.
There are about 1,800 private aided and non-aided institutions in Maharashtra which impart technical education. The court noted that since 2009 AICTE has not inspected the institutions in the state within the timeframe.