Colleges affiliated to Anna University, which are opposed to the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)’s directive not to run science courses, want the State government and the university to allow them to continue with the courses. A college in Kanyakumari district, Narayana Guru College of Engineering, had moved the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court and got a favourable verdict, they cited.
AICTE
The AICTE had directed engineering colleges not to admit any students under the non-engineering programmes — three-year B.Sc. and five-year integrated M.Sc. programmes — this academic year. It had denied affiliation for non-engineering courses terming them “unapproved.”
Two five-year integrated courses
In the case of the Narayana Guru College of Engineering the college had originally sought affiliation for two five-year integrated courses — M.Sc. Software Engineering, and M.Sc. Electronic Media. But, even after the favourable verdict from the High Court, chairman of the college G. Sidhardhan is not a happy man.
“I filed a writ petition on March 6, 2013, asking the Anna University to continue affiliation for the academic year 2013-14 for the M.Sc. Software Engineering and M.Sc. Electronic Media courses.
Verdict
The verdict of April 17 was in our favour. However, the Anna University is yet to act upon it,” he told The Hindu .
The court had directed the Anna University “to extend affiliation for the M.Sc. Software Engineering and M.Sc. Electronic Media for the year 2013-14 and also for the engineering courses, on merits and in accordance with law, within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order,” he said.
Heavy investmens
Echoing the sentiments of principals of many engineering colleges, he said that the decision of the AICTE cancelling the affiliation to science courses was a big setback because the colleges had invested heavily in terms of infrastructure, faculty, and other amenities.
An engineering college principal in Coimbatore said many teachers who had taught these subjects for years would go without a job. Statistics show that placements for the five-year integrated courses have been good, if not better, than those of the conventional engineering courses.
“Points will be presented”
Vice-Chancellor of Anna University M. Rajaram said he was in consultation with the government and the points being discussed would be presented at the Syndicate meeting to be held soon to enable the university to come up with a decision for the benefit of students.
