AICTE Cannot take Direct Action Against Deemed Varsities: Court

Chennai: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has "primacy" over the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) in maintaining standards and enforcing regulations in deemed universities, the Madras High Court has ruled.

Passing orders on a batch of petitions on the jurisdiction of the UGC and the AICTE over the deemed universities offering technical education, the First Bench comprising Chief Justice A.P. Shah and Justice Prabha Sridevan said: "Even if the AICTE discovers the shortcomings of a deemed-to-be university, it has no further or direct control. Nor is there any scope for the AICTE to initiate any direct action against the said deemed-to-be university. It can only bring these defects to the notice of the UGC for further action."

Stressing the need for the two agencies to function cohesively for the integrated development of technical education, the Bench said: "The AICTE has the power to inspect, but...it cannot charge like a bull in a China shop, for that will only wreak havoc. The AICTE also cannot take action directly on the erring universities. All that it can do is to report to the UGC... It will assist, aid and advise the UGC in seeing that the quality of education is not diluted. So, the apprehension that the AICTE will be reduced to a silent spectator is unfounded."

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