Sathyabama, SRM

Rashmi and Badri (in Tamil) have covered the background. DreamChaser, and Shravan are following up on all the events subsequent to the AICTE action. Pareshaan and Madhu give their insiders' views -- from the outside, since they have already graduated.

Let's start with some facts:

First, AICTE swoops down on institutions offering programs in engineering, issuing them a notice demanding that they get its approval by March 7, or else. The students panic, go to their respective college or university administrations, and seek a clarification about meaning of this AICTE notice. When they don't get a straight answer -- or worse, when they do get one, with all its nasty implications -- they organize protests, some of which lead to violence. Things get pretty rough, particularly at Sathyabama and SRM (both deemed universities).

Right now, there is a lull on the streets, and the tussle between AICTE and the colleges/universities is being fought in the courts. Both the parties are are plotting their next legal moves. The colleges are set to reopen soon.

In the meantime, a student of Satyabama is reported to have commiteed suicide.

Some observations:

• Several people have already commented on the timing of AICTE notices. From Badri's post, it appears that the institutions were issued these notices a long time ago, but the notices were stayed by a court, and the stay order was revoked sometime in October of 2005. So, this issue has been simmering for a while, and appears to have reached a flash point only now. It's not clear if AICTE did anything to make it flare up last month, but I don't see anything untoward in AICTE's actions; being a bureaucracy, it's (probably) just following routine procedures.
• I don't think there is any dispute about how, after they obtained the 'deemed university' status, these institutions expanded their intake of students by as much as 5 times and introduced new programs. Their case that their status as Deemed Universities gives them these rights -- and that they are not fettered by other regulatory authorities such as AICTE -- is utterly laughable. From a legal viewpoint, AICTE is on a strong wicket; except, of course, that the legal process may yet be subverted.
• If AICTE does prevail, the institutions and their managers must be given strong, exemplary punishments. However, their students -- victims, really -- must be allowed to transfer to other institutions. Both are unlikely.
• I expect the market for engineering programs is not going to be a sellers' one next year.
• Finally, the highly deplorable role of UGC -- the organization that granted these less-than-stellar institutions the status of a Deemed University -- must come under harsh scrutiny. I don't know who will do it, but I certainly don't see our mainstream media doing it. Sigh!