RTI: Only 3 engg colleges affiliated

The Asian Age: Mumbai: Wednesday, 09 July 2014.

An RTI by NGO Citizen Forum For Sanctity in Educational System (CFSES) has revealed that only three engineering colleges under the jurisdiction of the University of Mumbai are functioning with a proper affiliation since the past five years. The affiliation of the remaining 58 colleges has expired and the colleges have been offering courses illegally.

According to Subhash Athavle, member of CFSES, most engineering colleges under Mumbai University have been flouting various norms that are laid down by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) since the past 12 years. “While the college managements have been guilty of flouting norms, the University is not far behind as time and again it has turned a blind eye to the excesses by the colleges,” said Mr Athavale.

Mr Athavle explained that most of the colleges have been operating on temporary affiliation, which has to be renewed every year. “However, the RTI has revealed that they have not renewed the same since 2008-09,” he said.

He added that one of the reasons for the affiliations not being renewed is due to the fact that the University has failed to send local inspection committees to the colleges.

Replying to the allegation, Dr M.A. Khan, registrar, MU said that granting of extension of affiliation was delayed, but the same has now been initiated. “The process of endorsing the extension of affiliation was delayed by the university for some or the other reason. As of today, the inspection committee has visited all the 58 engineering colleges. The process for the approval of an extension is on.”