AICTE-Govt row: Larger bench to hear pleas

The High Court at Hyderabad on Monday referred to a larger bench the question of whether the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) can grant permission to set up a new engineering college disregarding the request of Telangana State government to deny such permission.

The division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice T Rajani directed the High Court Registry to list this matter before a larger division bench.

The bench was dealing with a writ appeal filed by the Higher Education Department of the government against the order of the single judge on June 16 directing it to accord permission to the petitioner society, Keshav Memorial Technical Educational Society, to set up a new engineering college in Ghatkesar.

Although AICTE granted permission for setting up the college, the State Technical Education Directorate denied it.

Additional Advocate General J Ramachandra Rao in his arguments informed the bench that there are more engineering colleges in the State than the demand for engineering seats from the students. Already many seats in many colleges are lying vacant.

In this backdrop the State had recommended to the AICTE not to grant permissions for setting up new engineering colleges in the State. The State has this power under Section 20 of Telangana Education Act, he submitted.

The counsel for AICTE argued that it was within its power to grant permission for setting up a college in any State. If there was a conflict of opinion between it and a State, the AICTE view must prevail as per the law.

The division bench after hearing arguments on both sides directed the registry to post the matter before a larger division bench.