AICTE squads to recover docus of profs

After several complaints from the faculty employed in private colleges that the managements were withholding their original certificates to prevent them from moving jobs, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has decided to form a squad to probe the issue to recover the documents. After issuing repeated warnings, the council has now warned to derecognise theseinstitutions.

Last month, All India Council for Technical Education issued circulars warning that universities and affiliated colleges would be derecognised if the management forced the faculty members into submitting original certificates during their employment. As per the guidelines, the educational institutions are not allowed to retain these certificates.

However, complaints are still pouring in from the teaching staff, alleging that the managements of these private institutions were not following the instruction despite the circular. A senior official from AICTE told DT Next that they have received complaints against some institutions in Tamil Nadu stating that original certificates were not returned to the faculty members even while leaving employment.

In addition, the official said, it has come to their notice that some institutions were withholding the original certificates of students, cancelling their admission at any point of time and demand fee for subsequent years. “It is a clear violation of AICTE norms and attract strict punitive action,” warned the official.

Officials said that a decision was taken to inspect the institutions that violated the norms, and recover the certificates of faculties and students.

The AICTE squad would conduct surprise checks and ask the management to return the original certificate to the persons concerned.

“Action will be also initiated against those institutions that violated the rules. The AICTE will not hesitate to withdraw the approval if an institution continues to repeat the offence,” he added.

He said faculty members or non-teaching staff were also advised to give at least one month’s notice while leaving the job in mid-session, keeping in mind the interest of students’ future.