NEW DELHI: The All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) has decided to withdraw its approval to Amity Business School in Noida near here for conduct of both full-time and part-time post-graduate diploma courses in management from the ongoing academic year.

The decision was taken on Saturday and the Council will be writing to the Governments of Uttar Pradesh and Delhi to secure their help in accommodating the affected students in approved institutions in a "nearby locality''.

An estimated 300 students have been affected by the decision taken after expert committees of AICTE found Amity Business School -- located in the satellite township of Noida adjoining Delhi -- violating norms and standards set by the Council. It was allegedly running several unapproved courses from the same premises -- some in collaboration with foreign universities, which require mandatory approval from AICTE -- by using the facilities and infrastructure meant for courses approved by the Council.

Since it was stretching its facilities thin, the expert committees found that the standards of education at Amity Business School were diluted though huge amounts were being charged as fees from the students. "Also, there was no transparency in the admission process."

According to AICTE, it had issued show-cause notices to Amity Business School after finding several norms being violated. The decision to withdraw approval to the two courses was taken after two recent visits to the school by expert committees over the past two months -- the latest on August 5 -- revealed that the norms of the Council were still being violated.

The action has been taken in exercise of the Council's powers to conduct annual and surprise inspections under Section 10(p) of the AICTE Act to ensure that the prescribed norms and standards are maintained by the technical education institutions. The expert committees comprise individuals drawn from premier institutions.

Officials at the Council said this was a routine exercise but indicated that the whip might be cracked on more such institutions since repeated warnings to erring establishments to comply with the prescribed norms had proved futile.

With reference to the AICTE decision, Amity Business School said in a press release that the order of the single judge had been set aside by the High Court of Allahbad and the AICTE asked to consider the matter afresh. The Court had observed as follows:

Special Appeal No. 843 of 2006
Amity Business School and v. All India Council For Technical Education and others

Hon'ble R.K.Agrawal, J.
Hon'ble Vikram Nath, J.

(Delivered by R.K.Agrawal, J.)

We are, therefore, of the considered opinion that the two orders passed by AICTE, namely, dated 17.9.2005 and 28.7.2006, should be set aside and AICTE be directed to decide the entire matter afresh in accordance with law.

In view if the foregoing discussions the Special Appeal succeeds and is allowed. The judgments and order of the learned Single Judge is set aside.

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