Son of sitting MP also among striking ICFAI students

By PRABEER SIKDAR

DEHRADUN, 25 May 2009: Harihar Mishra, a BTech III year Computer Science student of ICFAI University, Dehradun is a celebrity among his friends, who are on dharna outside the Assembly seeking AICTE approval for their BTech courses. “My father – Ram Prakash Mishra – is a Member of Parliament from UP’s Shahjahanpur,” Harihwar told Garhwal Post, adding that he has informed his father about their ongoing agitation.

Among the 300-odd ICFAI’s BTech students, who had gathered near the Assembly today, there was also Sanjay Patel, IIIrd year Computer Science student, whose father is an ex-MP from Rewa, Madhya Pradesh State. “He belongs to BSP,” said Patel, who unknown to his heavyweight politician father, is on a hunger strike since last Monday at their protest site.

“I am just living on plain water,” added red-eyed Patel, pointing out that in the last eight days, he had lost 7-8 kgs.

Since March 27 (see Garhwal Post story published yesterday), ICFAI’s BTech students are on a warpath seeking AICTE affiliation for their courses. Following the hunger strike by over a dozen students since last week, two students – Rahul and Vivek – have been hospitalised so far.

Ultra Vires

Speaking to Garhwal Post, Kaushelendra Singh, ICFAI Student Union leader, said that ICFAI University, Dehradun was planning to accommodate students from its other centres from Hyderabad, Bangalore and Jaipur to Dehradun. “This is illegal,” he said explaining that following the Apex Court guidelines given in Prof Yashpal vs Govt of Chhattisgarh (2005) had nullified Section 7 (b) of the The ICFAI University Act, 2003 enacted by the Uttarakhand Government, even with retrospective effect.

The said section reads: ICFAI University, Dehradun can establish a campus in the state, and have study centres at different places in India and other countries.

According to the protesting students, the impugned section was not amended by the state government in tune with the Apex Court guidelines. “Already, there is an infrastructure problem, then how can they accommodate an additional 3000 students at one place,” Singh asked. “By August, students from other centres would be given admission here.”

Reading from The ICFAI University Act, 2003, the students also allege that acquiring AICTE affiliation by the University was mandated under the said Act. “As per Section 8 ( r ) of the said Act, they require permission from UGC and AICTE for running degree courses,” pointed out Singh.

The said section reads: ICFAI University, Dehradun can prescribe such courses for Bachelors Degrees, PG… which would be covered by UGC and AICTE…(What though is the definition of ‘covered’ in this contest is difficult to decipher.)

University’s stand

When contacted, Prof Prabhakar Anant Kulkarni, VC of ICFAI University, Dehradun said that about 1000 plus students ‘have expressed their desire to complete their BTech course fom ICFAI, Dehradun’. “The paperwork for acquiring University status for ICFAI’s other independent institutions in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Jaipur and Bhuvaneshwar is underway,” he explained.

He also denied that with the arrival of more students at ICFAI University, Dehradun would affect the quality of teaching. “We have already appointed 47 faculty members from IITs and other reputed institutions for BTech programmes in Biotech, CS, Electronics and Mechanical in Jan/Feb itself.

”On the issue of AICTE approval raised by the protesting students, he said that ICFAI University, Dehradun was within the ambit of law. “As per the existing law, getting AICTE approval is not needed for a University. A regulation free administration works better,” he emphasised.

About the problems faced by some passed out students on account of alleged rejection of their job applications by some PSUs he said, “We have filed an RTI on 5 May with the HRD Ministry seeking its stand on three points: 1. Whether ICFAI University, Dehradun requires AICTE approval. If it is not, then are the students eligible to apply for government jobs…”

“We expect to get a reply soon,” he hoped, adding that with the arrival of students from ICFAI’s other institutions from other states it would ‘lead to the development of a cosmopolitan character in ICFAI. “There would also be increased competition among students, which is good.”

He, however, said that new students would be admitted from other ICFAI centres ‘based on their capability to provide them academic facilities’.

Commenting on proposed amendment of Section 7 of The ICFAI University Act, 2003 following SC verdict in Yashpal case by the Uttarakhand government, he said, “I don’t think the Yashpal case has any connection with the proposed amendment of section 7 of The ICFAI University Act, 2003.”

http://www.garhwalpost.com/index.php?mod=article&cat=Feature&article=1173