HYDERABAD (SIND) NATIONAL COLLEGIATE BOARD AND ANR vs. ALL INDIA COUNCIL FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION (AICTE) THROUGH ITS ADVISOR-II AND ORS

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Date of Judgment: 24-08-2015

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Full Judgment Text

2015:BHC-AS:19833-DB
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
WRIT PETITION NO.4807 OF 2015
1. Hyderabad (Sind) National Collegiate 
Board, 
A Society Registered under the 
Provisions of the Societies Registration 
Act, 1860 and a Trust registered under 
the Provisions of the Bombay Public 
Trust Act Having its registered office at 
Kishinchand Chellaram College Building 
124, Dinshaw Vachha Road, Churchgate, 
Mumbai­ 400 020
2.  Watumall Institute of Electronics, 
Engineering and Computer Technology 
situated at 47, R.G. Thadani Marg, Near 
Venus Apartment, Worli, 
Mumbai­400 018 ...Petitioners
Versus
1. All India Council for Technical 
Education, (AICTE), through its Advisor­
II (Approval  Bureau / Member 
Secretary), a statutory body of the Govt. 
th
of India, 7  floor, Chandralok Building, 
Janpath, New Delhi­110 001.
2. The Regional Officer,
nd
AICTE, Western Region Office, 2  floor, 
Industrial Assurance Building, Veer 
Nariman Road, Opp. Churchgate Railway 
Station, Mumbai­ 400 020.
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3. State of Maharashtra through The 
Secretary, Higher and Technical 
Education, Govt. of Maharashtra 
Mantralaya Annex Building, 
Mumbai – 400 032.
4. The Director of Technical Education,
Govt. of Maharashtra, 3, Mahapalika 
Marg, Dhobi Talao, Mumbai ­400 001.
5. The Pravesh Niyantran Samiti, 
having its office at 305, Govt. of 
Polytechnical Building, Kherwadi, Ali 
Yavar Jung Marg, Bandra (East),
Mumbai­400 051.
6. The Registrar,
University of Mumbai, University 
Campus,
Fort, Mumbai 400 032. ...Respondents.
…..
Mr. Pravin Shewale i/b. Mr. J.S. Chandnani for the 
Petitioners
Mr. Mihir Desai, Senior Advocate with Mr. S.S. Jadhav 
and Mr. Sarnath Sariputta for Respondent Nos.1 & 2.
Ms S.S. Bhende, Asstt. Govt. Pleader for 
Respondent Nos.3 & 4.
Mr. R.A. Rodrigues for Respondent No.6.
…..
  CORAM : ANOOP V. MOHTA   & 
       A.A. SAYED, JJ.
   DATE  : AUGUST 24, 2015.
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ORAL JUDGMENT : ( Per Anoop V. Mohta, J.):
Rule . Rule made returnable forthwith.   By consent of 
the parties, taken up forthwith for final hearing.
2. The   Petitioners   are   a   minority   Sindhi   community 
institution,   which   runs   various   colleges,   including   professional 
colleges   and   schools   based   upon   requisite   affiliation/   approval, 
th
have filed this petition dated 8  May, 2015.  Counsel appearing for 
the parties conceded the position that in view of the judgment 
passed by this Court in Writ Petition No.4586 of 2015 ( Saraswati 
Education Society's Saraswati College of Engineering V/s. All 
India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) & Anr)   and in 
Writ Petition No.4620 of 2015  ( Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil college 
of Engineering V/s. All India Council for Technical Education & 
Ors.)   this   petition   must   succeed   as   the   issues   are   identical   in 
present writ petition and, therefore, it can be disposed of for the 
recorded common facts and the reasons in the said judgments.
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3. On 16.11.1981 Petitioner No.2 institute was established 
with a post graduate diploma course affiliated to the Board of 
Technical Examination, Maharashtra State with the permission of 
Technical Education Department.  Initially it was an aided institute. 
On 21.7.1983 Petitioner No.2 affiliated to University of Mumbai. 
Petitioner No.2 institute was receiving grant­in­aid from State of 
Maharashtra   to   run   the   three   year   degree   course   in   electronic 
engineering, computer technology and electronic instrumentation 
(hereinafter referred to as “the B.Sc. (Tech) Course”) in the period 
of 1984­2002.
4. Petitioner No.2 started four year degree course B.E. in 
the year 2003­2004.
5. Petitioner No.2 was granted extension of approval by 
Respondent No.1 AICTE in the period of 1994­2013.  On 23.8.2013 
Petitioner No.2 applied to University of Mumbai for continuation of 
affiliation and paid requisite fees.
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6. On 9.1.2014 the Petitioners paid yearly affiliation fees. 
On   21.5.2014   Petitioner   No.2   applied   to   Respondent   No.2   for 
extension   of   approval   for   the   academic   year   2014­15.     On 
22.5.2014   show   cause   notice   was   issued   by   Respondent   No.1 
stating that on surprise visit on 17.2.2014 certain deficiencies viz. 
(i) plot area is 2438.15 sq.mtr. instead of 2.5 acres i.e. 10117 sq.m. 
(ii) Staff students ratio 0:9:33 (9 Adhoc) against 1+5:12:38 and 
(iii) Cadre ratio at present is 0:9:33 against the required ratio 
5:12:38 excluding Principal were noticed.  On 3.6.2014 reply filed 
by the Principal of Petitioner No.2 college that no misrepresentation 
or   concealment   of   factual   position   with   regard   to   land   and 
extension   of   approval   was   being   given.     Petitioner   No.2   had 
requisite infrastructure.  It was pointed out that it was not possible 
to   improve   deficiency   with   regard   to   land   as   there   was   acute 
shortage of land in Mumbai.  So far as staff student ratio and cadre 
ratio is concerned, it was assured that the same will be removed 
within a short period.  On 23/24.6.2014 the impugned order was 
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passed   by   Respondent   No.1   placing   Petitioner   No.2   under   no 
admission category for the academic year 2014­15.  In July, 2014 
Petitioners filed Writ Petition (L) No.1488 of 2014 in this Court. 
On 15.7.2014 this Hon'ble Court stayed the said order and granted 
ad­interim reliefs in terms of prayer clause (c) whereby Respondent 
Nos.3 and 4 were directed to continue to include Petitioner No.2's 
name   for   the   centralized   admission   process.     On   12.11.2014 
Petitioners   made   representations   for   shifting   of   Petitioner   No.2 
from Worli to Ulhasnagar.   On 30.4.2015 Petitioners received the 
impugned   order   passed   by   Respondent   No.1   thereby   putting 
Petitioner No.2 in “no admission” category for the Academic year 
2015­16.
7. The Petitioners have placed on record a detailed chart 
referring to the deficiencies and their respectful compliances and 
justifications   /   reply   to   the   same,   which   are   supported   by 
documents.  After going through the same, we are of the view that 
a case is made out for the reliefs so sought by the Petitioners.  All 
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these issues about requisite land, building, affiliation every year, 
deficiencies in staff, student and cadre ratio have been dealt with in 
detail in above judgments.  Therefore, for same reasons also we are 
inclined to allow the petition.  Hence, following order is passed :
ORDER
(a) The Writ Petition is allowed in terms of prayer 
clause (a). 
th
(b) Interim order passed by this Court on 13   May 
2015 is confirmed. 
(c) The   Respondents   are   directed   to   consider   the 
representation/case   of   the   Petitioners, 
specifically on the issue of cadre and faculty and 
related   aspects   by   giving   an   opportunity   of 
hearing   and   pass   a   reasoned   order,   at   the 
earliest.  
(d) The   Respondent­University   is   directed   that   in 
order   to   avoid   the   delay   in   appointments   of 
teaching   faculty   in   the   institution   like   the 
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Petitioners, the proposals received for approval 
of draft advertisement, roaster, nomination of the 
subject experts, nomination of nominee of the 
Vice Chancellor and approval of the candidates 
selected   through   duly   constituted   Selection 
Committee,   such   proposals   be   decided   in   an 
expeditious   and   time   bound   manner   so   as   to 
avoid deficiencies in respect of the same being 
shown by the AICTE in the proposals of such 
institution for extension of approval.
(e) The   Petitioners   to   take   steps   to   remove   the 
deficiencies, even if any, as early as possible.
(f) Writ Petition is accordingly allowed.
(g)  Rule made absolute accordingly. 
(h) There shall be no order as to costs.
(A.A. SAYED, J)      (ANOOP V. MOHTA, J.)
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