The Hindu : New Delhi News : Plea to `save' SPA autonomy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 07, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Plea to `save' SPA autonomy

NEW DELHI, APRIL 6. The Delhi High Court today issued notices to the Human Resources Development Ministry, School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), its Director and Registrar on a petition seeking to restrain the Centre from interfering with SPA's autonomy by forcing revision of its Consultancy Rules and amendment of the Memorandum of Association (MoA).

While asking the respondents to file their reply to the petition by May 6, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul also stayed the SPA's General Council meeting scheduled for today which was to ``approve'' the amendments in the (MoA).

Petitioners - Vijay Garg, Ajay Puri and Punit Sethi - all practicing architects - also sought quashing of SPA Director J H Ansari's appointment.

Their counsel Rakesh Tiku, who submitted the resolution adopted by the Executive council dated June 23 last, said that the issue of amendment in the MoA would be placed before the General Council for approval by a two-third majority but later the Executive Council on September 24 sought to adopt the changes suggested by the Ministry under pressure.

In terms of these amendments, the strength of the General Council was sought to be brought down from 55 to 14 which was the strength of the Executive Council, he told the court.

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