CBI names IIT Kharagpur director as accused in AICTE scam – TOI – 27.4.11

Akshaya Mukul | TNN

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has made Damodar Acharya, director of IIT, Kharagpur, as an accused in the scam involving the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). Acharya was the chairperson of the AICTE when approval to many existing technical institutions was granted.
    In its latest report to the HRD ministry, the CBI has also recommended regular departmental action for major penalty for the lapses committed by Acharya.
    An employee can be dismissed under the regular departmental action, sources said. It remains to be seen what action the HRD ministry takes against Acharya. So far the ministry has been going as per the CBI recommendation and has taken action against many AICTE officials.
    Acharya’s involvement relates to the e x t e n s i o n given to Padmavathy College of Engin e e r i n g (PCE) for 2006-07.
    The CBI said the AICTE had appointed a three-member appraisal committee to assess the PCE.
    The assessment was based on the information furnished by the institute as well as the visit by the committee.
    Considering faculty shortage in the institute, the appraisal committee had reduced the intake from 180 to 90 seats. Acharya, the CBI said, “did not consider the recommendations of the appraisal committee and took a decision to maintain status quo”.
    Accordingly, the institute was given extension of approval.
    Highlighting the role of Acharya, CBI said: “He did not consider the recommendation of the appraisal committee contravening the conditions, guidelines, norms and regulations of the AICTE which would clearly establish his official misconduct.”
    CBI also pointed out that Acharya “did not bother to issue directions for rectifying the defects pointed out by the appraisal committee.
    Therefore, he failed to protect the interests of the AICTE to maintain uniform standards in institutions of higher education and prevent the commercialisation of the technical education.”
    For 2007-08 also, the institute was given a year’s extension despite information about shortage of faculty and the staff not being paid salaries as per the AICTE pay-scales.