Case Note & Summary
The petitioners, P.R.Pote (Patil) Education & Welfare Trust and its group of institutions, filed a writ petition before the Bombay High Court seeking directions to the Director of Technical Education and the State of Maharashtra to include their college in the centralized admission process for the academic year 2011-2012. The petitioners had applied to the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) for approval to start a Master in Computer Science course with 60 seats and to increase intake in Mechanical Engineering from 60 to 120 seats. AICTE granted approval on 14 July 2011. However, the Director of Technical Education did not accept the request to include the college in the list of approved institutions for centralized admissions. The petitioners argued that the facts were similar to those in Writ Petition No. 5455 of 2011. The court, after hearing the parties, noted that the petitioners had also applied for affiliation to the concerned university. The court directed the Director of Technical Education to include the petitioners' college in the centralized admission process for the academic year 2011-2012 and to issue appropriate government resolutions and publish the same in the Government Gazette. The court also directed that the name of the petitioners be displayed on the website. The petition was disposed of accordingly.
Headnote
A) Education Law - Technical Education - Centralized Admission Process - AICTE Approval - The petitioners sought directions to include their college in the centralized admission process after AICTE granted approval on 14/7/2011 for the academic year 2011-2012. The Director of Technical Education had not accepted the request. The court held that once AICTE grants approval, the State authorities must include the college in the centralized admission process and issue necessary government resolutions. (Paras 1-5)
Issue of Consideration
Whether the Director of Technical Education can refuse to include a college in the centralized admission process after AICTE has granted approval for the academic year.
Final Decision
The court directed the Director of Technical Education to include the petitioners' college in the centralized admission process for the academic year 2011-2012, issue appropriate government resolutions, publish in Government Gazette, and display the name on the website. The petition was disposed of.
Law Points
- AICTE approval is sufficient for inclusion in centralized admission process
- Director of Technical Education cannot refuse based on timing of approval
